Carl Allen (Jim Carrey) is a guy whose life is going nowhere. Mainly because "no" is the word he most frequently uses when confronted with an opportunity. One day, a former co-worker (John Michael Higgins) convinces him to sign up for a self-help program based on one simple rule: say "yes" to everything ... and anything. Higgins claims it has completely revolutionized his life. Though skeptical, Carl decides to take the plunge and soon notices that unleashing the power of "YES" begins to transform all areas of his life - work, romance, etc. But is it too good to be true? Surely his willingness to embrace every opportunity has to have some consequences, right?

Yes Man opens with a hilarious, and very relatable, scene. Carrey's buddy calls him and wants him to hang out that night. Carrey immediately starts making excuses and says he "has a thing." I felt a slight tinge of conviction because Side-Hug Sam had invited me to an event the following Friday. "Um, I appreciate the offer, but my sister's graduation is tomorrow and I really want to just chill out that night," was the most legitimate excuse I could conjure.

Let's face it - sometimes it's more convenient to say no. Life is busy enough when you're just focusing on yourself; it becomes downright chaotic when you're being tugged in seven different directions. But Carrey's life is going nowhere fast. When he attends the "Yes Man" seminar, he's told: "You say no, therefore you're not living," and "Yes always leads to something good." So he gives it a shot. Why not?

Sure enough, saying "yes" begins to open new doors and reveal exciting opportunities, as well as plenty of humorous moments for our entertainment. Yes Man is a return to form by Carrey. It ranges from hilarious (Carrey wearing a Harry Potter costume for toddlers) to retarded (the Red Bull scene) to disgusting (the old woman scene), but overall, it's a light-hearted, funny diversion from life that thankfully doesn't rely on 100 minutes of profanity and vulgarity to appeal to the least common denominator.

Carrey and Ms. Deschanel exhibit a charming chemistry, and the love story is cute, but I wouldn't exactly classify this as a "romantic comedy." More focus is placed on the comedic side.

There's really not much else to add. It's a Jim Carrey comedy; you know what to expect. It's not on par with Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura, or even Liar Liar. Think more Fun with Dick and Jane. Though Carrey eventually feels a few consequences for saying "yes" no matter what, I felt they could have explored that angle a little further and to bigger laughs. Trust me, saying "yes" to EVERYTHING doesn't necessarily reveal new opportunities.

Just read my My Own Private Nightmare horror story. You'll realize that sometimes your best bet is to just say you "have a thing." Funny movie? Yes ma'am. To be taken as life advice? No, man.

I knew this movie experience was going to be interesting when I arrived and overheard the conversation of an excited woman behind me: "Fairies at first can steal human babies, but then their magic won't be as strong." Oh yeah! I had a crazy woman behind me and I wanted to hear everything she had to say. I was able to hear all about vampire blood-sucking (first hyphen!) methods, witches, and ghosts' ability to walk through walls. How could a movie top this? I have to say though, after a while she kinda got ridiculous. I had the feeling she was making up some of this stuff.

To give you some background info on Yes Man, I watched Step Brothers - Director's Cut at home the other day. I have to say, Step Brothers was vulgar and juvenile. I'm actually a huge Will Ferrell fan, but in this movie he relied on shocking vulgarity and gross stunts rather than at least some sort of plot and character interaction. I was hoping for a redeeming comedy when I entered the cinema for Yes Man.

This movie is predictable, but plot twists aren't why I go see a romantic comedy. I want to laugh. This movie made me do plenty of laughing. Have you ever tried taking photographs while running at full-speed (hyphen!)? Ever meet a high-maintenance homeless guy? If I ever have a suicidal friend, I know exactly how to help them out now. I even got some really cool ideas for dating. Of course, me taking dating advice from Jim Carrey movies may explain why I am single...

The things I didn't like were the "Jim Carrey moments." You know, where Jim Carrey is being Jim Carrey. Apparently old people, children, and animals with hearing in the high-frequency range enjoy this. There is also an uncomfortable sexual part. You'll know it when you see it. And when I say "uncomfortable," I mean it! And finally, there are a couple F bombs and GD's. There are only a couple. So few, it would seem no one would notice if they were removed. Ugh.

This was a good comedy that had me laughing out loud at a time when we all need a little escape and laughing in this world.

Songs I Listened to While Writing This:

Ray LaMontagne - Meg White
Kings of Leon - Happy Alone
Jamie Lidell - A Little Bit More
Casting Crowns - Father, Spirit, Jesus
Kings of Leon - Four Kicks

• The movie is based on a book written by Danny Wallace - a British author, producer, and journalist.



• Jim Carrey performed his own bungee jumping stunts in the movie.



• You may remember Terence Stamp as General Zod from Superman. He's also the voice of Jor-El in Smallville.



• Zooey Deschanel was in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford with Garret Dillahunt who was in No Country for Old Men with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.

Man, it was so close. Unfortunately, Yes Man felt the need to add one "f" bomb and about three g-d**ns. Had those been omitted then this would have been fairly clean. The "brief nudity" consists of a rear shot of Jim Carrey on a motorcycle wearing a hospital gown and a scene at the very end where we see a room full of yes men/women covering themselves (they're nude because they donated their clothes to charity - nothing explicit is shown). There is also one "sexual" scene with an old woman that definitely should have been left on the cutting room floor. We don't see what's happening, but we KNOW what's happening, and that's just as bad. Ugh. Don't take the kids.

Take your impression of the trailer, add that to your preconceived ideas regarding Jim Carrey, and the result will be your answer regarding whether this is a film you want to see on the big screen.

If you're a Carrey fan then you likely won't be disappointed if you make this a matinee. If you're just not sure during these economically-challenging times then it can wait for a rental.