Yes Man Review

I didn't hate Yes Man. I'll start my review like that because if you've seen the trailer you either have already seen it or think it looks dreadful. In a one sentence plot synopsis: Jim Carrey, a normally selfish individual who doesn't embrace life, learns to use the word Yes and instead of being sheltered he tries new things and falls in love along the way.

I immediately went in like Meryl Streep with my doubts. Great, another Jim Carrey comedy. Maybe I'll see Carrey do wacky voices, and maybe I'll see him get hit with objects, and maybe, JUST maybe I'll see him be Jim Carrey: Over the top and unrestrained. Then there was Zooey Deschanel, the equivalent to a less mainstream less attractive Scarlett Johanson. Her voice to me is monotone and rarely reaches shouting level. Even when she is yelling I could be eating chips with a crunch louder than her.

For the most part however one out of the two actors surpassed my expectation. Carrey, while we do hear him do wacky voices and get hit also happens to be held back, for the most part. Minus a scene where he drinks Red Bull all night and gets hooked becoming extremely hyper we don't see the Carrey from such films as Cable Guy. Zooey Deschanel on the other hand does what she does in every other movie. If you've seen Elf one of the 43 times its been on TBS this holiday season, then you've seen what Deschanel is doing here.

The story isn't amazing either. It's funny at times but its more miss than hit. One awful scene has Carrey making love to a woman 40 years his senior which is not only creepy but honestly proves nothing that we haven't already seen from the movie. Yes Man even has Carrey playing the guitar to a man about to jump from his apartment window. The catch: he begins singing Jumper by Third Eye Blind. It's a great song and is somewhat of a crowd pleasing moment.

By the end of the movie I didn't hate myself for spending the money to get in. It's predictable and isn't inventive in the things it's shtick. But for something mildly refreshing among all the awards season bunk Yes Man certainly has it's share of high points. Grade - C