Sunday 28 December 2008

Film Review: Yes Man (2008)

I didnt think i'd do a 'serious' post today. So there's no real analysis of this film - just a few thoughts on something I went to see to relax.

I went to the cinema for the first time in ages yesterday. Given I'd read the book this was based on a long time ago I thought I'd give it a shout. And I have to say that the fact that I'd read Danny Wallace's Yes Man (supposedly a true story of what happened to him) coloured how I viewed the film. Mostly cos it's almost nothing like the book.

Instead the film has Jim Carrey star as the main character Carl, set in America instead of London and with a whole host of other characters not in the book. It was like they'd stripped the story down to its bare bones and then given it a whole new flesh. There was the odd bit of occasional bit that popped up from the book and a cameo appearance by Wallace but apart from that you would barely know it was the same person.

That said the story they've constructed around it wasn't that bad - it was an okay film with some quite good new quirks replacing Danny Wallace's own ones. However, it is only very loosely based on the book and to me having read the book it was a shame that some of the really quirky and funny parts of the book had been gotten rid of. It isn't a disaster, but I think I would rather of them make something that had actually based on the book.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

As a left-leaning Sociologist new to blogland I just thought I'd post to say hi, leftwing criminologist. Enjoyed the review; had not realized that 'Yes Man' is an adaptation of Danny 'how to start a country' Wallace's book!
Best, fete de jour,
http://sicsempererat.wordpress.com/

Leftwing Criminologist said...

Hi Jour, actually, the book it's based on is also called Yes Man, its a good few years or so old now.

Anyway, welcome to blogland

Vicky said...

I'm going to see this soon, the premise sounds interesting and good for a few laughs. I'm glad you said it's decent because I hate seeing movies after I've read even one negative review. I'm picky!

Happy New Year :)