What's with Jim Carrey's new role?

I've read and heard this question posed by many in relation to his upcoming role in the film "Number 23," a psychological thriller which will begin showing in the next couple weeks.

What, Carrey is just allowed to perform in silly comedies, such as: "Dumb and Dumber," "The Mask," "The Cable Guy," and "Ace Ventura"? Have these people followed Carrey's career at all?

"Man on the Moon," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "Lemony Snickets," "The Truman Show," "Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind," amongst other films aren't of the silly comedy variety. Carrey's most acclaimed performance may have been in the romantic drama, "Eternal Sunshine..." I heard a while back that Carrey was going to focus more on serious roles than he had been previously, on expanding his acting scope. Robin Williams has been famous for doing this. Why can't Jim Carrey give it a whirl? Jamie Foxx has also been successful with this level of expansion.

Personally, I've been more impressed with Carrey in his non-silly comedic roles than in his famous comic characters. Who knows if Carrey will be able to pull off the serious roles as well as the before-mentioned Foxx and Williams, but he got off to an excellent start with "Eternal Sunshine...". Some people need to lay off and let the guy feel his way around in different roles and genres.