New movies to be released tomorrow on DVD

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) *½ An alien named Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) is sent to Earth to warn the leaders of the world about the consequences of their dangerous ways. This botched remake seriously dishonors the seriously fine 1951 sci-fi landmark on which it’s based.

Donkey Punch (2009) *½ In a coastal Mediterranean paradise, seven people take their nonstop party from a nightclub to a luxury yacht far out to sea. When one of them mysteriously dies in a freak accident, the others come to blows over how to deal with the situation. A workmanlike thriller that works as an auto-critique of mainstreamed Internet-age hedonism.

Doubt (2008) *** In a Catholic elementary school in the Bronx, Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) begins to have doubts about one of the priests, Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who seems to have become overly involved in the life of a young African American pupil. Cinematically, this is something of a dud. But if it remains a play, it’s an ingeniously structured one, with smart, thought-provoking words spoken by fabulous actors, and how often do most of us get to see one of those, whether in three dimensions or two?

I.O.U.S.A. (2008) *** A documentary that examines several of the ways America can get its economy back on the right track. Equal parts enlightening and alarming.

Not Easily Broken (2009) *½ The trials and tribulations of Dave (Morris Chestnut) and Clarice Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), a married couple forced to reevaluate the strength of their bond after Clarice is injured in a car accident. These resourceful actors — to say nothing of the audience — deserve better.

The Tale of Despereaux (2008) ** Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) is different from other mice: He reads books, has ears too big for his too-small body and loves the human Princess Pea (Emma Watson). With his friend, a rat named Roscuro (Dustin Hoffman), Despereaux sets out to escape the castle dungeon and win the girl of his dreams. A little slow for the very youngest kids — though the messages it imparts are certainly ones you’ll want them to hear.

Yes Man (2008) ** As an antidote to unhappiness, Carl (Jim Carrey) resolves to say "yes" to everything that comes his way. The biggest problem with this movie is not that it’s mediocre, dull, or barely written (though it’s guilty on all counts). It’s that Carrey himself is miscast.