Yes Man (PG-13, 2008)

common sense media says

Carrey comedy breaks no new ground but draws ample laughs.


parents & educators say
  • 47% say sexual content is an issue
  • 38% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this comedy will likely appeal to young Jim Carrey fans excited to see him back on familiar (i.e. non-dramatic) turf. Although it's not as crude as the "gross out" comedies that have been so popular recently, there is some iffy stuff -- including a scene in which an elderly woman offers to perform oral sex on the main character (his facial expressions are shown) and another in which his bare butt is visible. There's also plenty of swearing -- everything from "ass" to "f--k" -- and a lot of product placement.

Positive messages: A man learns only to say "yes" when he means it.
Positive role models: A man tries to inject joy and excitement into his life by saying "yes"
to any opportunity that comes his way, even if he doesn't want to.  In
doing so, he misleads others into thinking that he's saying "yes"
because he wants to, though he doesn't mean any harm.
Violence: A man gets beaten up after he unknowingly makes a pass at someone else's girlfriend while drunk. He makes matters worse by hurling more insults during the fight. Another character throws a rock at a window and shatters it, causing guards to come running after him.
Sex: Kissing (some chaste, some fairly passionate); a man shows off his backside while wearing a hospital gown. An elderly woman propositions a much younger man and pleasures him orally; she takes off her dentures, and then the man's face is shown on camera morphing from overwhelmed to shocked to ecstatic.
Language: A fair amount for a PG-13-rated film. Words include "bastard," "s--t," "f--k," and more.
Consumerism: Hello, product placement! The treatment is sort of subtle, but many brands are name checked, including Starbucks, Super Shuttle, Big 5, Sports Chalet, Brea Federal, Nokia, Rolling Rock, and more.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A fair amount of imbibing -- mostly social drinking, though sometimes the goal is to get drunk.

More on Yes Man

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about why kids want to see this movie -- is it because of the story or because Jim Carrey is in it?
  • What makes something a "Jim Carrey" comedy? Would you like his movies as much if a different actor starred in them? Do you like his dramatic movies? Why or why not?
  • Discuss the movie's message. Why is Carl the way he is in the beginning? What does he learn? Is the lesson applicable in real life, or just fodder for a Hollywood blockbuster?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Sandbagged by a divorce, Carl Allen (Jim Carrey) is a virtual recluse, content to shuttle between his Los Angeles apartment and the bank where he works as a loan officer. If he does venture out, it's to the video store to pick up the DVDs he prefers to watch alone or to the coffee shop, where he won't even take a flier from the guy handing them out front. "No" is his favorite word: He screens his calls, dodges his friends, and has pretty much dropped out of life. But a chance encounter brings him to a seminar run by self-help guru Terrence Bundley (Terrence Stamp) whose rallying cry to his followers is to literally say "yes" to everything. And that Carl does, for better or worse.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Welcome back, Jim Carrey! After an extended hiatus from comedy -- his last live-action movie was the 2007 thriller The Number 23, and before that, 2005's Fun with Dick and Jane -- in YES MAN Carrey has found a vehicle that again makes the most of his elastic face and spastic humor. In many ways, it's reminiscent of Liar Liar -- only here he doesn't have to tell the truth, just say "yes." Carrey has mellowed just a little with age, too, which is perfect for the role. Co-star Zooey Deschanel is the perfect complement; as Alison, the jogging photographer/singer Carl falls in love with, she's offbeat enough to take the saccharine off, but still sweet enough to give Yes Man heart.

Still, some of the movie's gags are pretty done before they even get started. Getting laughs out of showing a hospital gown-clad man's backside? Been there, done that (see Jack Nicholson in Something's Gotta Give). The Internet jokes -- wife-finding Web sites, genital enhancement spam -- are fairly stale, too. But in a year filled with gross-out Apatow-ian films, it's somewhat of a relief to sit back and lose yourself in a traditional comedy that's absurdly cheesy, but in a good way. And the premise (the film was inspired by a memoir by Danny Wallace) is intriguing: If you say "no" to life, then it responds in kind to you, so why not go for it? Yes Man isn't exactly original, but it's fun.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Peyton Reed
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 104 minutes
Theatrical release: December 19, 2008
DVD release: April 7, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: crude sexual humor, language and brief nudity
Watch our review

This review was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
 
 

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What parents & educators say

14
Based on 32 parent & educator reviews:
  • 47% say sexual content is an issue
  • 38% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

movie fan141999
kid, 12 years old
 
O.K
it is varry funny but rude and evil

az123654
kid, 11 years old
 
O____O
It was kind of funny but some bad scenes.

Jadenp
teen, 15 years old
 
Suggested MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude sexual humor throughout, some strong language, and nudity

EricCarrRulez
teen, 14 years old
 
Perfect for Older Kids and tweens but not little kids.
Loved it.Best if older people watch it as to kids 9 and under.12+ to watch

earthgurl
teen, 15 years old
 
Very Funny
I saw this at a birthday party and we all laughed so hard. The main character (Jim Carrey), starts out as the guy who doesn't like fun, says no to everything. He changes throughout the movie.

moe hagen
parent of 9 year old
 
good for 10+
Good movie but there is some small things in the movie that are not appropriate for children under 10-11

Hedgypus47
kid, 12 years old
 
Great movie just not for little kids
Very funny movie! A little inaproppriate but good to watch with friends. A great comedy!

moviefan22
teen, 13 years old
 
SO SO SO HILLARIOUS!!!
I saw this movie with friend and expected it to have a lot more sexual humor than it did. Perfect comedy for kids 11 and older. There is some language and sexual content (including one fairly sexual scene, which we fast forwarded through) but other than that, it's so funny!! I was laughing again and again and again, all the way to the end! The brief nudity is basically nothing, all you see is bare backs from far away, but it's not as bad as it sounds. The things he has to say "yes" to are hilarious! One of the most funniest parts was for Red Bull when he went all hyper and went "red bull red bull red bull wanna share a red bull ever tried a red bull i like red bull its red bull its really really good!" If you want to keep on laughing and never stop, this is the movie for you!

workers
parent of 15 and 18 year old
 
Very funny in parts, shame about a couple of things
Had some very funny moments. Not deep, but very watchable and a feel good film. The old lady bit was out of order and certainly not what you'd want your kids to see... Jim Carey makes it.

some kid
kid, 12 years old
 
Hilarious Carrey Movie
With very noticable product placement and a few swears I'd say this is iffy for 11+.

Swit Swat
kid, 12 years old
 
Jim Carrey's crazy antics fail sometimes.
The perfect movie for older teens. Warning: Keep out of reach of young children. This movie was not meant for them. There is some violence, but not a lot. Products are shown (a lot). Some language, drinking and sex is also included. An elderly woman performs oral sex to a much younger man than her. Some kissing and backside nudity is also shown. It wasn't an " Oh my gosh this is like the best" kind of movie but it was okay.

holly525
teen, 16 years old
 
Bad
I saw this with a friend and I don't think it's appropriate for grown adults, let alone teenagers.

ohya
parent of 14 year old
 

davyborn
teen, 17 years old
 
Surprisingly very funny Carrey saga is not for younger teens
I know that this movie is fairly overlooked and was unforutnately made just a little too late for a Jim Carrey comedy film, but honestly, I felt that ir really worked for me, and was laughing continuously virtually throughout the whole movie. Not that I had high expectations about it before watching it, but I really thought that it was overlooked and very fun. But, some of the humor is way too crude for younger teens snf off-limits for tweens, with a oral sex joke, a implied sex scene, a mans behind exposed, and at the very end of the movie (actually, it's rthe very last shot of the movie) we see a large crowd of people, both men and women, completely nude from the backs with lot's of exposed bare buttocks. Also, there is frequent drinking with some drunkenness, and fairly frequent profanity including at least one use of the F-word. Seriously, if you haven't seen this, like Jim Carrey and are willing to give some of his newer stuff a try, watch it. It is incredibly overlooked, which is just a shame.

 
I've seen this movie twice. The first time I turned it off half way through because I was bored. The second time, I committed myself to watching all of it and I was pleasantly surprised. It was actually funny!

Shry
parent of 12 year old
 
inappropriate for under 18

Supergammer66
teen, 17 years old
 
Should not be seen by 15 and under
It was a good message of the movie, but it had some things that I would not let anyone 15 and younger see. It has lots of sexual behavior that anyone 15 and under should not see.

Nothingtodo2
kid, 11 years old
 
Good for preteens (Ages 10-13)
I loved This movie it was so funny the cursing isn't that bad and there is only one seen with a b j from an old woman the movie has a good plot to it and i can see why its rated PG-13 I loved this movie

Doodelium
kid, 13 years old
 
Kind of funny...
Yes Man has some funny parts sprinkled around but other than the occasional laugh there wasn't much but a love story. I think they should have classified it as a romantic comedy.

4Spice
adult
 
good movie
good movie worth watching i love Jim carry 11 and older for sex mild words and mild violence

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