The more I see the trailer for the movie adaptation of Danny Wallace’s Yes Man, the more nervous I get. I understand that adaptation means that parts of the book can and will be changed, but the emotional impact should stay the same, right? That stale hyped-up-on-Red Bull bit is what has me on alert: the acting is classic over-the-top Carrey. If this tall-tale movie is going to stay at all relatable, we’ll need to see the more subtle version of Jim — the one capable of letting the situation be funnier than he is, of showing the vulnerability needed for you to believe that the reason his character had become anti-social isn’t simply that he’s a douche, of keeping you from wishing they’d cast someone like Paul Rudd (whose dry wit would seem more akin to Wallace’s, no?).
Am I reading too much into those few seconds of the trailer (below), or are you, too, worried that the humor and heart of the book will be lost in translation?
More on Yes Man:
EW movie preview: ‘Yes Man’
Danny Wallace interview: The Chronicle of a ‘Yes Man’
Terrified. Join Me and Yes Man are my favorite books… I was worried as soon as they made the trailer look like Liar Liar 2.
This movie looks to be vintage Carrey and I’m exicted.
I love Jim when he’s acting… though to date it seems to be only 2 movies: Eternal Sunshine, Truman Show, and Bruce Almighty (but the latter two only count for half).
I am still waiting to be convinced that this is different from Liar Liar.
i m so tired of his over the top acting. its why I am not a fan. he takes the ball and does not give it back until all the air is gone from it.
He is the same charatcer in every movie…it got old long ago!
I’m not familiar with the book this movie is based on but the advertisements make this movie look awful. The pop culture references are incredibly stale, red bull? temperpedic mattress? viagra spam? Even bungee jumping seems passe. I would love to see the Jim Carrey from ESOTSM again.
I agree that this looks like Liar, Liar part 2. The only Jim Carrey movie where he didn’t act over the top was “The Majestic”, which was fabulous. If he can act like that in all of his movies, I’d be a fan of his for life!
This movie looks terrible, but I saw one yesterday where they show Jim Carrey trying to talk is friend out of killing himself and he starts singing Third Eye Blind “wish you would step back from that ledge my friend…” and then he forgets the words..it was hilarious, but not enough to make me go see it.
Everyone is so right: this is Liar Liar 2 in all but name.
Hello.
Wallace here.
Worry not – the movie’s ace.
Dan x
It’s a Jim Carey movie…like it or not. I personally think it looks funny and plan on seeing it. I did also just waitch Liar, Liar yday too
Kinda torn, really like the book. Seems a shame they’re not really using much of the book other than the premise. But then the film has Rhys Darby in so… yes, torn.
The trailer looks echhh. I feel terrible for Zooey Deschanel–to be trapped in a “Jim Carey Christmas Movie”. I had hopes for this one, even though Carey kind of scares me.
Honestly, didn’t know this was based on a book, and I’m usually spot on about knowing if a movie is based on a book or a play without knowing about the existence of the play or book. This just looked like Liar Liar 2 redux.
Yes Man is such a great book (if you haven’t read it you should!) and I am crushed everytime I see this trailer. It could have been such a great movie about a guy trying to change his life in a very funny and unusual way. Instead we get the usual Jim Carey schtick. So disappointing!