Yes Man
Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: December 19, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
46
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
18
Negative:
4
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Undemanding, light, and enjoyable. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
Starts out wobbly but ends up quite nicely, primarily because Carrey has a wonderful acting partner in Zooey Deschanel. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
It's even better as a love story that just happens to make you laugh. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
Carrey's most satisfying live-action effort since "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
This is basically a nerd-loosening-his-tie romantic comedy done in the manic-compulsive mode of "Liar Liar." Read full review
67
Portland OregonianMarc Mohan
Of all the roles where the star has played a character transformed from ordinary to goofy ("The Mask," "Me, Myself & Irene," "Liar Liar"), this is the one where he seems the most human, achieving that elusive quality in a Carrey film: tolerability. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Like many previous Carrey vehicles, the point of this one directed by Peyton Reed is that one should not live at the extremes, but should achieve a balance between low and high, no and yes. Read full review
63
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Yes, yes, it's Liar Liar 2. Read full review
60
VarietyBrian Lowry
Genial but slim, picture is certainly a light-hearted alternative to weighty year-end awards bait, but the conceit isn't realized fully enough. Read full review
60
EmpirePhilip Wilding
It's charming enough with some nice comedy touches, but the initially intriguing premise is soon railroaded out of sight by its desire to conform to a tried-and-tested cinematic formula. Read full review
60
Film ThreatScott Mendelson
If the slightly generic Yes Man is symbolic of the new, happier Jim Carrey, then it is a small price to pay for his piece of mind. Read full review
58
Seattle Post-IntelligencerTravis Nichols
Though it's a star vehicle, Carrey seems only marginally interested in rehashing the role of sweet spaz, and so he almost feels miscast. Read full review
50
Village VoiceRobert Wilonsky
Yes Man is nothing more than warmed-over holiday seconds, a repackaged best-of for those who already own the hits. Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter Travers
If you're thinking "yuck," you're right. I added the extra star for Zooey Deschanel, who is so delicious as his honey that you want not to say no to Yes Man. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleTheresa Everline
Yes Man proves utterly formulaic. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Jim Carrey works the premise for all it's worth, but it doesn't allow him to bust loose and fly. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
The biggest problem with this movie - not that it's mediocre, dull, or barely written (though it's guilty on all counts). It's that Carrey himself is miscast. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
The film contains so many plugs for Warner Bros. movies like the "Harry Potter" series and "300" that it could almost double as an infomercial. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
It's nice to see a high-concept comedy with such a generous concept. Read full review
50
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
This picture evaporates midway through because the story itself is a one-liner. Yet it also has a cast that gets into the silliness. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
Yes Man puts him back in the same old quandary and, once again, Carrey lacks an identity. Alas, this time, he also lacks a script. Read full review
50
TimeRichard Corliss
Though the movie is no more than agreeable, it does provide a swell showcase for New Zealand wundercomic Rhys Darby (Murray the hapless agent on HBO's Flight of the Conchords) and gives the astrally adorable Zooey Deschanel a rare shot at a lead role in a big Hollywood movie. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazinePerry Seibert
Yes Man isn't without a few simple charms, but it ends up being about as funny, profound, and memorable as the average bumper sticker. Read full review
40
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
Yes Man rarely rises to genuine hilarity. It takes no risks, finds no inspiration and settles, like its hero, into a dull, noncommittal middle ground. Should you see this movie? Maybe. Whatever. I don't care. Read full review
40
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Enjoyable enough for what it is, a clever idea developed by fits and starts. Read full review
40
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
An appealing Deschanel does her best, but the pair is mismatched in every way, from age to attitude. The entire movie is hung on Carrey's shtick, so if you're a fan, you'll have a decent time. Read full review
38
New York PostKyle Smith
The first time I saw Yes Man, I thought the concept was getting kind of stale toward the end. As it turns out, that was only the trailer. Read full review
30
Washington PostDan Zak
Even though Carrey is a bit mellower these days, the schtick feels dated. He's doing material from the '90s. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
The comedy, to the extent there is any, consists mainly of Carrey's verbal asides and strained reactions to people. The script gives him very little to work with. Read full review
10
SalonStephanie Zacharek
With Yes Man, Carrey has bled the well dry, doing everything he knows how to do, over and over again, just to prove that he still knows how to do it. It's exhilarating to see brilliance in a comic; but by the time you start smelling it, the game is over. Read full review
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