Yes Man - I Should Have Said No

Now, I should state for the record that I like Jim Carrey. As an actor, occasionally, but as a person, especially. He seems to be a thoughtful and kind individual. Every time I see him on Larry King with girlfriend Jenny McCarthy talking about autism I feel nothing but admiration for the both of them.

And while his comedy can be somewhat jarring, I also love Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. On the whole, I think he is very talented. So why does he keep making these ridiculous, formulaic comedies? Yes Man could literally be the same script for Liar Liar with a few minor changes.

The plot to this film is so predictable, I don't feel like I even have to give a synopsis. For the sake of hilarity, however, I will. The film starts with Carrey as a withdrawn Los Angeles bank employee. Not only does he constantly say no to going out with his friends to bars his ex-wife frequents (what is wrong with this guy! Who doesn't want to run into their ex?) but also to prospective loan recipients who are not qualified (because saying yes to these people would lead to a world of good, as our economy has recently shown.) Let's just hope that no one working at Fanny Mae took the "Yes" seminar.

Anyway, Carrey is a joyless jerko; but thankfully some homeless man comes along, throws something through the bank window and wisely informs Carrey that saying "No" is bad. Apparently you will never live a full, rewarding life (that includes throwing things through bank windows) unless you say "Yes" to everything. For some reason Carrey is eventually compelled to follow this guy to a cult self help meeting, where he decides that saying yes to everything will, indeed, be a good way to live life. Of course there are some hilarious romps that ensue, including getting molested by his elderly neighbor, because of course she'd choose that day (a day when he can't say no) to suddenly make uncharacteristic sexual advances toward him.

Can I wash my soul out now?

Luckily, Carrey doesn't have to settle for geriatric lovin' too long, because he soon meets the predictably quirky Zooey Deschanel. She's the yin to his yang -- a woman that he'd never have met during his NO PHASE. After a brief encounter while refueling (he his car, she her scooter) he happens upon her again at a bar, where her band is playing. Flirting ensues, blah blah, they date, blah, he says he will move in with her even though he isn't ready, (because he can't NOT say YES!) he has a run-in with his ex, there's a misunderstanding, blah blah cut to the end where Deschanel and Carrey ride off into the sunset.

I guess there were some cute moments, but all in all it felt like the average, contrived plot. The only reason I watched this movie was because my mom swore up and down that I'd love it. But alas, no. Maybe I am just a NO person?