Yes Man (2008)
2008
PG-13
104 Minutes
Carl Allen has stumbled across a way to shake free of post-divorce blues and a dead-end job: embrace life and say yes to everything.
User Review
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Yes Man resembles more of a "Maybe Man", or a "Perhaps Man" leading towards a "Possibly Man". After watching this for the fourth time, one revelation sprung to mind. I miss Jim Carrey's career. Whilst this is not his best comedic outgoing, it's probably one of his most watchable titles. The light comedy paving the way for a predictably mundane romance produces an optimistic outlook on how one should live, but doesn't necessarily exploit its concept fully. A bank loan officer, with an increasingly negative perspective on life, attends a motivational seminar which changes his routinely daily workings to a life of spontaneity, allowing him to meet a new girl in process.
How does one obtain the dream girl, you ask? Say "yes!" to literally every opportunity. Attend Korean lessons? "Yes!". Accept oral sex from an elderly neighbour? "Sure, why the hell not!". Drive halfway across the city at the request of a homeless man whilst he drains the battery on your phone and leads you to run out of gas? "Sign me up!".
The concept of said seminar is to open one's mind at every opportunity presented, not to be a negative Nancy and become an introverted recluse. Let life guide you. Sure, this ethos is somewhat taken to the absurd degree with Carrey instantly shouting "Yup!" to all things stupid, but at its core there is a poignant message to be taken from Wallace's memoir of the same name. And that's where this film succeeds in being the eternally watchable comedy that it is. The onslaught of shenanigans that Carrey finds himself jumping into, suits his body comedy. He has always been an exaggerated comedian, and a traditional one at that, who can obtain chuckles from myself by rapidly talking about Red Bull whilst having consumed said beverage. Simple, yet hilariously effective. The hyperactive narrative is perfect for his skittish nature.
Where the film falters however, is with the terribly written romance. I have nothing against Zooey "Look at me, I can't act" Deschanel, but let's face it, she just cannot express any range of emotion. She is unable to masquerade the one-dimensionality of this forced romance that plagued the story, offering a complete tonal shift from the well-executed comedy. The plot should've focused purely on Carrey's rehabilitation on his perspective on life, not wide-eyed Deschanel. Far too formulaic for my taste. Cooper, despite not being a star back then, was underused. Fortunately Stamp blows everyone out of the negative water with his insatiable positivity. Just him running off the stage and towards the crowd like Sonic the Hedgehog, was enough to make me shout "Yes!". Unfortunately, the romance is an overbearing "No!".1 member likes this review.
