Three out of Five stars
Running time: 102 mins

Likeable comedy that's enlivened by a strong premise, a handful of laugh-out-loud moments and a superb supporting cast.

What's it all about?
Loosely based on the book by Danny Wallace, Yes Man stars Jim Carrey as Carl, a bank loan manager who's still depressed after his divorce two years ago and routinely avoids contact with everyone, including his best friend (Bradley Cooper). However, an encounter with a former colleague (John Michael Higgins) convinces Carl to attend a seminar run by self-help guru Terence Bundley (Terence Stamp), where he's persuaded to change his life by saying yes to everything that comes his way.

Carl is understandably sceptical, especially when his initial attempts leave him stranded on a highway at midnight (after giving a homeless man a lift) or accepting sexual offers from his randy 60-something neighbour (Fionnula Flanagan). However, when one of Carl's disasters results in his meeting free-spirited Alison (Zooey Deschanel), he begins to wonder whether there might not be something in this yes business after all.

The Good
Yes Man has an intriguing premise that delivers several decent gags and actually leaves you with something to think about afterwards. Carrey is well-suited to this sort of thing but he largely reins in the manic excesses of previous films in favour of injecting a little more believability. (This is no Liar, Liar, despite the similar-sounding premise.)

However, as good as Carrey is, the film's stand-out is Zooey Deschanel, who's both drop-dead gorgeous and utterly delightful as the eccentric Alison, particularly when singing with her band, Munchausen By Proxy. There's also strong comic support from a talented supporting cast that includes Danny Masterson (as Carl's freeloading friend Rooney, who exploits Carl's situation to his own advantage) and a scene-stealing Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords) as Carl's nerdy boss Norm.

The Bad
To be fair, not all the jokes work, but the film is charming enough to forgive the odd misfire.

Worth seeing?
Yes Man is a likeable comedy that succeeds thanks to strong comic performances and an intriguing premise. Worth seeing.