Yes Man Movie Encourages Positive Thinking
Jim Carrey and Rhys Darby Ride High on Cosmic and Comic Energy
Jan 5, 2009 Lynette S.K. Webster
Yes Man would be the choice film to lift one’s spirits in the doom and gloom of the credit crunch. What happens when one says yes to the universe, to every opportunity that presents itself, ridiculous or not? Carl Allen, played by the talented Jim Carrey, finds out.
Unexciting Carl has a bank job with no prospects. After being dumped by a girlfriend, he has rejected social life altogether, preferring to be entertained by the offerings of his local video store. Luckily he has two good friends (Bradley Cooper and Danny Masterson), and an encounter with wild, carefree Nick (John Michael Higgins) who takes him to a Yes Man seminar. Everything changes when Carl says yes instead of no to everything.
Jim Carrey as Everyman...or Unnatural Phenomenon?
Jim Carrey came to fame in The Mask, and his performance showed he is clearly not an everyman. Fans admired his flexibility, his elbows and angles, the neverending gags...But Carrey went on to play very normal characters in The Truman Show, Bruce Almighty, Fun with Dick and Jane and so on. Perhaps Hollywood producers like Carrey springing boring characters into life. Or maybe there is a touch of cynicism in Mr. Carrey’s farce.
Whatever the reason, Jim Carrey gets better every time. His onscreen farce is so natural now, people forget what an unnatural phenomenon The Mask was...that is, until Jim Carrey tapes up his face in Yes Man. Question is: can every man be like Jim Carrey? The answer is probably no, but if one says ‘Yes’ to everything, the possibilities are endless.
Rhys Darby as Norman... or ‘Norm’ Man?
Even a superstar like Jim Carrey knows the value of a sidekick. Rhys Darby is Carrey’s sidekick in Yes Man. Rhys puts in an enjoyable Austin Power-esque performance as Norman, the bank manager who nearly passes Carl over for a promotion. Armed with irritating glasses and an accent, Norman is the sort of character one avoids in everyday life. But once Carl says ‘Yes’ to everyone, Norman becomes a good friend. Carl soon surpasses Norman at everything, even work. The message? It is better to choose Yes Man over Norman (no man or 'norm' man?).
Terence Stamp as the Guru
The Yes Man seminar steals the show. Terence Stamp is perfect as guru Terrence Bundley. There are no holds barred as Carrey and Stamp make fun of this guru encounter. Thankfully at the end of the film, the guru comes back to put things straight, as the Yes Man programme starts to go awry. Moral of the story is: gurus are also human, not gods.
Zooey Deschanel as New Age Girlfriend
The Yes Man needs the right partner, a New Age girlfriend to keep him on track. Someone who has a photo-jogging group, sings in a band and rolls down hills in her spare time. After The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe, Zooey Deschanel is the definitive New Age girlfriend. Her uncommon blue eyes, alabaster skin and slight lip twitch as she speaks makes her foreign-looking yet accessible. Deschanel seems happy enough to play New Age roles but if she would like to play something different she has to do it soon!
Yes Man Dispels Doom and Gloom
Yes Man may have nearly collapsed into boy meets girl love story, if it did not retain its light touch thanks to Jim Carrey's flair for turning the most mundane moments into the craziest of gags, and Terence Stamp's scary, wacky guru caricature. Credit also goes to next-door neighbour Tillie (Fionnula Flanagan). How can positivity not be king, when throughout the film there is only one message? Say yes to everything, especially to Yes Man.
- Yes Man
- Starring Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Terence Stamp, Bradley Cooper, Danny Masterson, Rhys Darby, John Michael Higgins, Sasha Alexander, Molly Sims, Fionnula Flanagan
- Written by Nicholas Stoller, Jarrad Paul, Andrew Mogel. Adapted from Danny Wallace's book
- Directed by Peyton Reed
- Running time: 1hr 44min
Yes Man Jim Carrey and Guru Terence Stamp
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Zooey Deschanel is Hollywood's New Age girl
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