Movie · 2008 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 44m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 2.1/10 (789.1K ratings)
One word can change everything.
Overview
Carl Allen, a guy whose life is going nowhere, signs up for a self-help program based on one simple covenant: say yes to everything…and anything.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.1/10
IMDb: 6.8/10
Letterboxd: 3.16/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 44%
Metacritic: 46
TMDB: 6.7/10
Director
Peyton Reed
Production
Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, Heyday Films, The Zanuck Company
Cast
Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, John Michael Higgins, Rhys Darby, Danny Masterson, Fionnula Flanagan, Terence Stamp, Sasha Alexander, Molly Sims, Brent Briscoe, Rocky Carroll, John Cothran, Spencer Garrett, Luis Guzmán, Kai Lennox, Cecelia Antoinette, Stephanie Hodge, Jamie Denbo, Rebecca Corry
Curator Review
Verdict
A breezy, high-concept studio comedy with an easygoing romance and a strong Jim Carrey showcase, but its premise is more amusing than profound and the humor can feel uneven. It works best as a light, feel-good watch rather than a sharp or fully satisfying one.
Best for
fans of broad 2000s studio comedies
viewers who like Jim Carrey’s elastic, high-energy performance style
people in the mood for a low-stakes romance with self-improvement themes
audiences who enjoy quirky, upbeat crowd-pleasers
Skip if
you want a smarter or more original screenplay
you dislike self-help satire or mildly absurd premise comedies
you’re looking for a deeply romantic or emotionally layered film
you’re not in the mood for broad, occasionally corny humor
Overview
Yes Man is built around a simple comic engine: what happens when a burned-out guy decides to say yes to everything. That setup gives Jim Carrey plenty of room to riff, and the movie’s best stretches come from his physical commitment and the film’s cheerful momentum. Zooey Deschanel adds offbeat charm, and the whole thing has an easy, polished studio-comedy gloss.
Worth noting
The film’s weakness is that the premise is stronger than the writing around it. It starts as a playful satire of self-help culture and personal reinvention, then settles into a fairly familiar romantic-comedy shape. Some jokes land, some don’t, and the emotional arc is predictable, but the movie stays watchable because it moves quickly and keeps its tone light.
Bottom line
If you want a pleasant, mildly silly comedy with a likable lead and a few memorable bits, it does the job. If you’re hoping for something sharper, stranger, or more emotionally resonant, it may leave you wanting more.
Top Letterboxd reviews
rot (1★) · 2047 likes
No.
Matt Singer (2★) · 1333 likes
It's a good thing nobody asked him to chop off his hand.
James (Schaffrillas) (2.5★) · 1154 likes
Why did I say yes to watching this
Bianca · 891 likes
need all the songs zooey deschanel sung on spotify asap
gaia (2★) · 817 likes
i’m not financial capable of saying yes to everything i’m sorry
2006 · Drama, Comedy, Romance · 1h 53m · PG-13 · Curator 5.7/10 (415.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
Another offbeat mainstream comedy about a man whose life is disrupted by an unusual premise and forced self-examination.