Sidewalks On The Corner

Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, John Michael Higgins, Danny Masterson, Rhys Darby, and Terence Stamp are among the stars in the latest Jim Carrey comedy film, "YES MAN."

Follow up:

YES MAN
Warner Bros. Pictures / Village Roadshow Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude sexual humor, language and brief nudity

Studio Synopsis:
“Yes Man” stars Jim Carrey as Carl Allen, a guy whose life is going nowhere—the operative word being “no”—until he signs up for a self-help program based on one simple covenant: say yes to everything...and anything. Unleashing the power of “YES” begins to transform Carl’s life in amazing and unexpected ways, getting him promoted at work and opening the door to a new romance. But his willingness to embrace every opportunity might just become too much of a good thing.

Peyton Reed (“The Break-Up,” “Bring It On”) directed “Yes Man” from a screenplay by Nicholas Stoller and Jarrad Paul & Andrew Mogel, based on the book by Danny Wallace. The film is produced by Oscar-winning producer Richard D. Zanuck (“Driving Miss Daisy,” “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”) and David Heyman (the “Harry Potter” films, “I Am Legend”). Marty Ewing (“Blades of Glory”), Dana Goldberg (“Nights in Rodanthe”) and Bruce Berman (“Get Smart”) serve as executive producers.

"Yes Man” was filmed entirely in and around the Los Angeles area.

Richard's Take:
Jim Carrey returns for another comedy vehicle called “Yes Man.” Based on a true story and book of the same title by British humorist Danny Wallace, Carrey plays Carl Allen, a lonely and divorced loan worker at a bank, whose life changes after he goes to a self-help seminar where the motto is “yes.” Basically, he has to say yes to everything, whether it is coordinating a friend’s bridal shower to the advancement of an old woman for a sexual reward.

The movie itself was cute and there were some laughs along the way, but I found Carrey’s facial antics and his usual crazy humor annoying when he played the depressed Carl. I know, I know -- it’s a Jim Carrey movie; you have to expect Carrey to do this usual routine in any of his films. I personally think the crazy side interfered with the character. In one scene, for instance, he goes out all night drinking with his friend (Danny Masterson) and then meets up with his potential love interest (Zooey Deschanel), who is leading a photography group, early in the morning. Although he is high on the energy drink Red Bull, he runs around like a mad man around her group. If it was my girlfriend, she would leave me after I came over in that uncontrolled condition. To me, it was another forced scene for Carrey to do the “Carrey stick.” Of course, the Deschanel character of Renee Allison doesn't mind and falls in love with him anyways. Maybe I’m getting tired of seeing the same thing from him. Who knows?

One of the things I found interesting while watching the film was the use of so many familiar faces – especially if you are a TV watcher like myself. I started to play guess which star appeared in which show. This isn’t a good sign. Former TV regulars include Masterson (That ‘70s Show), Sasha Alexander and Rocky Carroll (NCIS), Patrick Labyorteaux (JAG), and Molly Simms (Las Vegas, previous Sidewalks guest). Also look for standout appearances by Terence Stamp (“Superman”), Luis Guzman (“School for Scoundrels”) and Fionnula Flanagan (“Four Brothers”), who got some good laughs in their respective scenes.

I’m not saying “Yes Man” is a bad movie, but you could see almost the same thing in another Carrey flick, the more successful “Liar, Liar.” If I had to pay $12 to watch the film, I rather rent it.

J.P.'s Two Cents:
Usually movies with Jim Carrey in them turn out sillier than normal, so I was pleasantly surprised at watching “Yes Man.” Unlike previous films like "Ace Ventura" and "Dumb and Dumber," “Yes Man” is a mature outing for the comedian so far. With its lighthearted and slightly romantic approach, the film is a more palatable to watch than most of his work in the past, because now he's not out to prove to anyone that he's terribly funny and silly. It's about taking life by the horns.