A CHRISTMAS CAROL 3D

title: A CHRISTMAS CAROL 3D

year: 2009

cast: Jim Carrey, Bob Hoskins

director: Robert Zemekis

rating: **

Amazing how much a modern 3D movie can put you RIGHT THERE, like you're experiencing every nook and cranny as a nearby observer. But that's also the problem. Everything happens as if being spied upon - taking away from any story being told... much less a classic one. I never felt the journey - of a grumpy, stingy old man being shown his past, present and future by three ghosts - had any other reason to change Scrooge from a nasty coot to the nicest guy in the world other than the fact he got the piss scared out of him by formidable CGI specters. It had little to do with his neglected childhood, his selfish present state or outlook on Christmas, his doomed future... or a little crippled boy named Tim. (Being shrunk to the size of a walnut and chased around by the Grim Reaper and his demonic black horses would have turned Hitler into a Care Bear too.) Nothing was special about Scrooge's redemption other than the fact he was forced on a trip through hell and was glad to be alive at the end. The point of the Dicken's tale is that Scrooge is SHOWN these things that alter his outlook, not force-fed them. While director Robert Zemekis got his money's worth of CGI, he overlooked everything else.

YES MAN

title: YES MAN

year: 2008

cast: Jim Carrey

rating: ***

While it isn't fulla huge belly-laughs, it's provides some light chuckles. Carrey's glib, surly, bitter character goes to a motivational speaker (Terrance Stamp) to get more out of life: he isn't hypnotized but rather, is told to simply say yes: and that if he says no, bad things will happen. So he says yes and ends up meeting the girl of his dreams. Getting the job of his dreams. And finding fulfillment in taking on life instead of avoiding it. But he also lands in a lot of trouble. And it's all a very entertaining rehash of "Liar Liar", but seems completely new somehow.