The Cinema of the Four

Yes Man

Having declined to record my inquiries into “Transporter 3” or “Punisher: War Zone,” it seemed only fitting that I once more take pen in hand to jot some notes on a more positive case that came to light in the theater listings this week. A less observant movie detective might dismiss the matter of “Yes Man” as a typical exploit of the notorious Jim Carrey. That, would be a definite case of theorizing before the facts.

Even though “Yes Man” seems to follow the same mechanic of past Carrey cases like “Liar, Liar” or “Bruce Almighty,” wherein a flawed individual is pushed into some behaviour that enables him to realize his flaws and overcome them, this particular exploit comes off as a more mature, solid Carrey venture. His character, a loan officer named Carl Allen, actually is somewhat interesting before he attends a seminar on saying “Yes!” to all things in life. And the rest of the cast is fun to watch as well, from his friends (played by TV actors Bradley Cooper of Nip/Tuck and Danny Masterson, better known as “Hyde” from “That 70s Show”) to Yes-guru Terrence Stamp to . . .

Yes, Zooey Deschanel. If ever there was a actress whose winsome charm seemed the sort of thing anyone would say “yes” to, it is Zooey Deschanel (sister of Emily Deschanel from TV’s “Bones”). After a long string of almost-hits, like “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” “Bridge to Terabithia,” and “The Happening,” “Yes Man” seems to finally be her movie. Her singing, formerly just heard in her duet with Leon Redbone on “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” gets to be displayed prominently. It’s almost her movie as much as Jim Carrey’s, and perhaps that’s the best part of “Yes Man” . . . rather than being a “Jim Carrey Movie” where all the other actors just stand around and let Carrey’s manic style carry the film, everyone in this piece seems to be lighting up the screen at their own particular moments, from his Austin-Powers-esque co-worker to his oversexed neighbor lady.