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Yes Man (2008)

Director: Peyton Reed

Time Out rating

Average user rating
39 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Jim Carrey’s two-faced screen image is frustratingly inconsistent. His serious films (‘The Cable Guy’, ‘The Truman Show’, ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’) explore the dark, disturbing side of his manic persona. The dumb, scattershot comedies sometimes hit the target (‘Me, Myself and Irene’) but just as often misfire (‘Fun With Dick and Jane’). This Americanised adaptation of Scottish writer Danny Wallace’s book tries to combine both facets of Carrey’s comic talent, but splits itself right down the middle.

Since his girlfriend dumped him, loans clerk Carl Allen (Carrey) has been saying ‘No’ to everything. Then he attends a seminar given by sleek self-help guru Terrence (Terence Stamp) - “Invite Yes into your life, because it will RSVP, Yes’ – and resolves to ‘Yes’ to everything. Very soon he’s snorting chilli sauce, learning to speak Korean, getting a blowjob from an amorous elderly neighbour with(out) dentures and attending Harry Potter parties thrown by his nerdy boss, Norm (Rhys Darby from ‘Flight of the Conchords’). At a gig by avant garde rock band Munchausen By Proxy, Carl meets and falls for the band’s cute, kooky and free-spirited lead singer, Allison (Zooey Deschanel).

Allison, who also runs a jogging and photography class, thinks their romance is a shaky proposition; but Carl has signed the pledge, so he whisks her along on a string of madcap adventures. But when the truly spontaneous Allison discovers that Carl is merely following a programme, she questions his love for her. Director Peyton Reed’s direction is slick, but each episode feels like a sitcom skit. And when Carrey’s hyperactive comedy shtick gives way to drippy life-lessons, earnest humour gives way to cloying sentimentality.

Author: Nigel Floyd

Time Out London Issue 2000/2001, Dec 18-31, 2008


User reviews of this film

  • MovieLover said...
    Posted on Feb 18 2009 15:37 A really good movie. I enjoyed every bit of it.
    Report as inappropriate
  • rajesh said...
    Posted on Feb 14 2009 17:03 excellent film, much better than expected, jim carey is back to his best, good feel good film
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  • adam1621 said...
    Posted on Feb 13 2009 10:55 Great Film, anyone tryed doing it....ive done loads of stuff since watching it......
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  • meg said...
    Posted on Feb 06 2009 21:07 its totely ausum
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  • kl dude said...
    Posted on Jan 31 2009 17:24 I haven't seen the film but shoyld I go, my friends ay it is good but I reallt dont know
    Report as inappropriate
  • heidi said...
    Posted on Jan 31 2009 17:23 I haven't seen this film but I really want to, my friends have but should I
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  • dave watson said...
    Posted on Jan 31 2009 14:56 hi im dave watson everton legend,realy gud film, i watchd it with my bit on the side n she loved it too
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  • joanna said...
    Posted on Jan 29 2009 18:54 american films suck nowdays
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  • reccomend said...
    Posted on Jan 29 2009 18:33 awesome film it was really funny i reccomend it a lot ! :D
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  • Brian Gilbert said...
    Posted on Jan 24 2009 14:12 use all talk total garbage,sado's
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  • Smegson said...
    Posted on Jan 22 2009 14:51 no offence but the professional review of this film is hardly a review, it simply states the storyline and throws in a few comments. Whoever wrote it should consider a new job lol
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  • melodie said...
    Posted on Jan 21 2009 17:16 whoever think sthis is a crap film have no sence of humor and are irritating just go home nand get a life people
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  • caitlin said...
    Posted on Jan 18 2009 19:07 i love this film so much, i went and watched it 4 my mates party,, its great,, i agree she looks so much like katy perry i almost thought it was, but i would say go and watch it.
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  • MovieRater said...
    Posted on Jan 18 2009 13:29 Good Film; cliched and predictable at parts but that's the fun of it! At least Jim Carey managed to keep his face under control most of the time. I think the girlfriend looks a lot like Katy Perry...
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  • itsnotme said...
    Posted on Jan 16 2009 20:12 it is the most ridiculas film ever a bit random but that wat gave it a bit of hilarity not good but ok
    Report as inappropriate
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