MOVIE REVIEW - Yes Man!

Rubberfaced Jim Carrey is back in another comedy, this one is called Yes Man! It's been a while since we've seen Carrey, carry on like this. But here we go again!

Carl, (Carrey) is a big time stagnant loser whose life is going nowhere fast. He's divorced, and has never recovered. He is 40ish, has had the same job for years, and has fallen into a pessimistic pattern of avoiding everyone, and everything, and is addicted to the word "no." Carl then goes to a self help guru, whose mantra is "yes" to everything. Carl excepts the challenge, and then says yes to EVERYTHING! There are benefits and the world becomes a better place for Carl, but there are ramifications to always saying yes and that's the direction of the movie.

The plot thickens as Carl meets and falls for Allyson, (Zooey Deschanel) who herself is a little off-beat and dances to her own drum. She teaches a combination jogging/photography class, and sings in the worst Rock Band in history at a club that draws about 9 people a night. They set off on a bunch of adventures, with Carl always saying yes. Can he keep it up? Well, that's the challenge.

Yes Man, is not the rip-roaring Carrey of years past. There are moments of real laughter here, but they come well into the picture. Yes Man stumbles out of the gate, but does pick up steam as it moves on. Zooey Deschanel gives YM a real pick-me-up that it needs. She is an interesting actress. A little awkward, and quirky, and no where near the Hollywood type. There is an everydayness to her that really works. Is she pretty? Or is she just different enough to be really interesting? She is a great foil to Carrey here, and the chemistry between them is really quite nice. Fatal flaw for me in this one, not enough of them together in this movie and too many fringe and side characters. And many of them just don't work at all.

Is it enough to save Yes Man? Marginally yes. I don't think anyone is going to stagger out of the theater this weekend doubled up with laughter, but it's fun. It doesn't all work, and there are a few moments that needed to go on the cutting room floor, but over all if you're a Carrey fan, you'll be glad to see him again. I will tell you, this is not the laugh fest that Bruce Almighty, or Liar, Liar is but it's not The Cable Guy either.

Say yes to Yes Man, but don't go in expecting to roll in the aisles.