Yes Man

Yes Man
Genre: Comedy

Starring: Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, Terence Stamp

Release Date: December 17th 2008






     Carl Allen is a "No Man".  When his friends invite him out, he says no.  When he sees a new possibility, he says no.  Every time opportunity knocks, he says no.  Hurt in the past by a failed marriage, Carl's only defense has been to withdraw into himself, shutting out the world and everything it holds.

     Then one day, fate intervenes, and lands him in a "Yes" seminar.  Terence (played by Terence Stamp) is a self help guru with very few bells and whistles, and one simple answer to all the questions and challenges life throws at us; Yes!  Taking the advice to heart, Carl begins to say yes.  To absolutely everything.  He starts a journey that will turn his life inside out, all starting from a simple act of kindness.  This new philosophy brings him squarely into the path of Allison (Deschanel), a spunky, "off the beaten path" woman with strange hobbies, a moped, and a passion for life and everything in it.

     Through ups and downs, losses and gains, lost friends and found ones, Carl finds out just how much good those three letters can bring.

     In a role every bit as over the top and full of slapstick as the movies that made him famous, Jim Carrey has somehow managed to outdo himself.  Though a lot of his comedy in Yes Man feels a little like we've seen it before, there is something about this particular role that stands out for me.  Maybe it is the material he is working from, maybe it's a product of his getting older, but he has much more depth and feeling in this than in almost any of his other comedic roles.

     Of course, he has shown he can be serious in the past.  Films such as The Truman Show and The Number 23 have been great opportunities for him to showcase his dramatic abilities.  This more than any other part, though, shows just how closely he can walk the balance between the two extremes that have defined his career.  Also, if you need someone to show you what it would look like when a shut-in who's given up finally embraces life, no one I can think of could have filled the role better than Carrey.

     Zooey Deschanel has been a favorite of mine for some time.  This performance has only made me like her more.  There is something so simple and honest about her acting style, that I am really drawn to her.  With that in mind, the character of Allison could not have been better cast.  Throughout the film, she gives warmth and life, and a smile that never quits.  She is a wonderful counterpart to Carrey's on-screen antics.

     Bradley Cooper really surprised me, as well.  I am used to seeing him play a**holes.  Films like He's Just Not That Into You and The Hangover have done a lot to cement him ino that kind of role; the cocky jerk with no regard for people or the emotions that come with them.  In Yes Man, he plays Peter, Carl's best friend and the last person in his life who has not given up on him.  Despite some good-natured heckling of Carl's new philosophy on life, Peter is a genuinely good guy who cares deeply for his friend, and truly wants him to be happy.  It was a nice departure from his usual, and he handled it very nicely.  Every time I watch it, I am surprised all over again.

     I will readily admit that the story is pretty formulaic.  It is your standard "Guy meets Girl, Guy loses Girl, Guy has to get Girl back" plot.  I didn't mind, though.  The specific humor was still very original, and even the minor characters handled their roles and jokes well.

     Ultimately, this is a great date movie.  It is sweet, very funny, and surprisingly touching.  Watching will certainly make you evaluate your own attitude towards the word "Yes".  I know I did...

Originality: 2.5 out of 5
Execution: 4 out of 5
Carrey (despite everything else, he IS the movie): 4.5 out of 5
Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5