The Good, The Bad and The Critic

Established on March 19th, 2012 and pioneered by film fanatic Michael J. Carlisle. The Good, The Bad and The Critic will analyze classic and contemporary films from all corners of the globe. This title references Sergei Leone's influential spaghetti western The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Yes Man (2008) Review

Title: Yes Man
Year: 2008
Director: Peyton Reed
Country: US
Language: English

By 2008 Jim Carrey had risen to great fame with comedic films like Liar Liar and had managed to find some success in more dramatic roles like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  Despite his films sometimes being panned by critics, there was no doubt he was a box office draw as his mediocre pictures made over $200 million. After having made a cartoon (Horton Hears a Who)  and thriller (The Number 23) in 2008, Carrey returned to comedy.

Jim Carrey is Carl, a man challenges himself to say "yes" to everything for an entire year.

First and foremost; Yes Man has the stupidest moral lesson I've seen in a Jim Carrey movie. Basically saying "no" to everything is bad & saying "yes" to everything is bad, so it's good to have a balance of "yes" and "no". Really!? Is that a lesson ANYBODY needed to learn? I'm pretty sure babies who were just born understand that concept. Boy, this movie is a real thinker ain't it? Brilliant! 

It's so sad that the man who starred in such complex pictures like Eternal Sunshine and Truman Show looked at this script and thought "Yes, this is acceptable". Granted, Yes Man does have a cute romance sub-plot and there are some legitimately funny moments like when Carrey sings "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind. I suppose as far as pop-corn munching movies go this just inches towards passable. 

If not for Zooey Deschanel, I don't know if I could give this film any credit. Her chemistry with Carrey gives Yes Man at least a little bit of heart. Yes Man has decent moments, but overall it's a bit of a wash. "Meh". 

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