Yes Man is a Jim Carrey comedy. Yes, it’s funny but Man is it similar to Liar, Liar. Don’t get me wrong… Carrey is just as hilarious, even if he does tone it down a notch from his Ace Ventura days. The biggest difference between Yes Man and Liar, Liar is that Carrey is ten years older. He’s still a jack-in-the-box when it comes to fun, but he seems wiser and more concerned with elevating the romantic side of things. You can’t blame him with the gorgeous Zooey Deschanel by his side. The film also has a formulaic approach, which seems to mimic Liar, Liar, Bruce Almighty and The Mask. It’s a little predictable, but then again it does fall into the “romcom” category. Instead of being an overpaid lawyer, Carrey finds himself as Carl Allen, a no-body. He works a desk job at a bank in the loans division, and is inundated with ridiculous loan requests. His attitude does a complete 180 degree turnaround after he attends a ‘Yes’ conference hosted by motivational guru Terrence Bundley (Terence Stamp) on the recommendation of an eccentric friend (John Michael Higgins). One “secret covenant” later, Carl is saying ‘yes’ to every request, at which point the fun begins…
Carrey really knows how to turn a scene into a spectacle, and there’s never a dull moment with some of the ridiculous invitations and questions he answers with a yes. It’s easier to accept that someone would start saying yes to reverse his life, and there’s definitely an element of spirituality humming in the background. It’s got a hint of Groundhog Day and a touch of Bruce Almighty for good measure, but the story doesn’t rely on any fantastic/spiritual elements like a birthday wish or act of God to keep the audience suspended. This down-to-earth quality tones things down, and also means Carrey isn’t able to go over-the-top. He still revels in physical comedy, but the gags aren’t as out-of-this-world as in his earlier works.
Rhys Darby of Flight of the Conchords, makes his screen debut and plays his character like Mike Myers’s Austin Powers, if he’d been cast in The Office (UK). The interplay between Darby and Carrey is awkwardly comfortable and this is one case where Carrey is equalled. Perhaps its the on-screen relationship between the two characters or the perceived mutual respect off-screen that does the trick. They don’t make any excuses for Darby’s strong New Zealand accent, and this role should spark a number of strong cameos (look out Ricky Gervais). Zooey Deschanel is good as Allison, in a typical Drew Barrymore kind of role, but tends to slip into the background when Carrey’s around. The pivotal romance is bumped down a notch by the comedy, and its a shame that Deschanel didn’t get more lines. They were sweet together, but didn’t have the charm or chemistry of a Hanks/Ryan or Barrymore/Sandler pairing.
Peyton Reed (The Break Up) directs a solid comedy and plays Yes Man to its strengths. The script must’ve been written with Carrey in mind, and is an interesting reflection 10 years down the line since Liar, Liar. Casting Carrey was a do-or-die decision, although it would’ve been interesting to see someone like Adam Sandler or Steve Carell in the same role. It’s also intriguing to discover that this comedy was based on a book by Danny Wallace, whose screen writing credits extend to producing and writing on a number of TV shows. Yes Man also sways into Farrelly brothers territory with one or two gags, so don’t surprised by one or two semi-offensive “stunts”. While Carrey’s performance matches those in Liar, Liar and Bruce Almighty, the film has a certain familiarity that makes you feel like you’ve seen it all before. There are one or two moments of brilliance, but otherwise its just another solid comedy with Jim Carrey on the edge. All in all, Yes Man’s a funny feel good movie and a must-see for Carrey fans.
The bottom line: Yes.
