What did we learn, kids? Don't f#%&$ with Tyler Perry!

How in the world did Tyler Perry manage to beat down the Jonas Brothers? I should have suspected something was up when black folks outnumbered teens and tweens by better than two to one as I lined up for a ticket Saturday (I was going to see "Milk" before it leaves theaters for good.)

In the biggest surprise so far this year, "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail" managed to hold on to the top box office slot with a week-two haul of $16.5 million, while those Jonas kids only limped home with $12.7 million for "Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience."

Amazing but, in my opinion, well-deserved, because despite his usual haul of lukewarm-at-best reviews, this is Tyler Perry's best film since "Madea's Family Reunion," and one I think just about anyone willing to take a chance on it will enjoy.

Beyond that on a quiet Monday morning (on which, amazingly, there is still some snow on the ground outside in Macon, Ga.!), the biggest news out there is about Jason Reitman's next flick, "Up in the Air." It wouldn't seem like taking a more-than-two-year directing break after something as solidly entertaining as "Juno" would be the best of career moves, but thankfully he's back at work now on something that sounds like a lot of fun.

George Clooney has already signed on to play a corporate downsizer who is obsessed with collecting frequent flyer miles at the expense of having a life, and now "Juno" star Jason Bateman has signed on to play his boss. "Twilight" fans should take note that Anna Kendrick, easily one of my favorite young actresses, has a pretty big role in this one too (though I plug it all the time, if you haven't seen the charming little flick "Rocket Science," in which she also stars, rent it immediately.) Her role was initially described as a love interest for Clooney, but since she still only looks like she's maybe 20 years old, I don't think they really want to go there.

Remember Gurinder Chadha?

The other big news from this morning's box office report was that "Slumdog Millionaire" enjoyed the best post-Oscars bounce since "Titanic." Danny Boyle's flick grossed $12.2 in an expanded run, and has now brought in more than $115 million in the U.S. alone.

And now, jumping while Indian fever is still the fad of the week, British director Gurinder Chadha is cooking up something that sounds really fun.

Remember her? Before seeming to disappear completely, she directed one of my favorite movies in "Bend It Like Beckham." High art? Perhaps not, but being a soccer movie with a great pop soundtrack and a thoroughly healthy-looking Kiera Knightley gallivanting around in a sports bra for much of the flick, it's just for me the definition of cinematic comfort food. After that she made the somewhat entertaining "Bride & Prejudice" and then, in what always reliable reviewer Emma at All About My Movies called easily one of the worst movies of 2008, something called "Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging."

Now, however it seems she's hopefully getting back on course by turning to - where else? - zombies. She describes "It's a Wonderful Afterlife" as "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" meets "Shaun of the Dead," and Variety says its about what happens when a British-Asian mother's obsession to marry off her daughter leads to serial murder.

That all sounds great to me, but it wouldn't be Monday of "Watchmen" week here if I didn't mention something about the flick that finally arrives Friday, so here it is: I've finally taken the plunge and opted for Imax. I just bought my ticket (for $17?!?!) this morning for the 12:20 p.m. Saturday show, and I can't friggin' wait. And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get ready for work, where I will at least attempt to do something besides daydream about Dr. Manhattan's voyage to Mars all day long. Peace out.