Yes Man
Cast: Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel
Direction: Peyton Reed
Rating: ***
If it’s Carrey, it must be at least zany and imaginative. That Yes Man is based on the true story of British humorist Danny Wallace.
Not exactly blessed with a sunny attitude at the outset, Carrey is a guy used to saying no-no-no to everything. After a self-help seminar presided over by positive thinking guru (Terence Stamp, amusing), our Mr No has to say, “Yes” to everything and everyone for a year.
That life-altering decision leads Carrey to down energy drinks, learn the guitar and Korean and even look for a bride on the Internet. The underused Zooey Deschanel shows up as the smart girl on a scooter. Come to think of it, this comedy about ‘behaviour modification’ is almost a companion piece to Carrey’s Liar Liar (1997).
Dedicated to positive thinking, this film is sufficiently witty and engaging. Don’t expect a classic though. Carrey is goofily likeable. Like the rest of the movie.