Film: Yes Man

STARRING: Jim Carrey (Liar,Liar, Bruce Almighty); Zooey Deschanel (Elf, The New Guy); Bradley Cooper (Alias, Wedding Crashers)
DIRECTOR: Peyton Reed (The Break-Up)
WRITERS: Nicholas Stoller (Fun with Dick & Jane); Jarrad Paul & Andrew Mogel (newcomers)
PLOT: Carl Allan changes his whole life around when he begins to say ‘yes’ to absolutely everything.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS
4 They had me at the concept. A man who has to say yes to everything. Jim Carrey excels in these outrageous comedies based on simple but fun concepts. A lawyer can’t lie for 24 hours. A newsman becomes God for a little while. Granted the other two films are far superior to Yes Man, but this one still has a great positive message and it’s nice to see Jim Carrey back to form after his disastrous Number 23.
4 Zooey Deschanel works great with Jim Carrey. They have surprising chemistry and Deschanel has some great comedic timing up her sleeve. In fact, this movie seems a lot more like a romantic comedy than a straight-up comedy thanks to her endearing presence. I do find it funny that they pair Carrey (age 46) with someone like Deschanel (age 28) to make the rubber-faced actor appear younger.
4 The supporting roles in Yes Man are not given much to work with. Rhys Darby is pretty funny as Carl’s nerdy, desperate boss who throws monthly costume parties. But the character is almost exactly like his Murray role from Flight of the Conchords. Funny but not much of a stretch. Bradley Cooper just comes off lame. It’s a weird on-screen friendship. Danny Masterson (That 70’s Show) seems miscast in this movie, but it’s nice to seem him working. Terrence Stamp and John Michael Higgins are funny as the mentor/disciple of the ‘yes’ philosophy but they’ve played these kind of roles countless times before.
4 While some of the critics are blasting this movie, I found it pretty funny. There is consistent humour. Some predictable, some not. Some of the initial yes responses seem random but there is a nice pay-off, especially in the airport. There’s also this fantastic scene that uses a beloved Third Eye Blind song that left me laughing pretty hard at the lunacy of it all. This movie is chock-full of laugh-out-loud moments.
4 Unfortunately, there is one pretty gross scene in the first third of the movie. You’ll know it when it comes. It is reminiscent of a Van Wilder gag and kind of makes this film a little bit harder to recommend to everyone. Although, it is still easier to recommend than the likes of Superbad and Knocked Up.

RECOMMENDATION
See it in the Theatre
(A perfect pick-me-up during the holiday season. However, there
is nothing ‘big screen’ worthy so you can also wait for DVD)

COMING SOON
Film review of Frost/Nixon