Catching up with Palisadians

The Post Goes Through Past Shows and Movies Featuring Locals

JENNIKA INGRAM | Reporter

Recently when searching for a film the whole family could watch, I came across the romantic comedy “Yes, Man” with former Palisadian Zooey Deschanel, funnyman Jim Carrey and Palisadian Bradley Cooper. I have watched it a few times and consider it a really sweet romantic comedy with some good humor.

The story is about a man who challenges himself to say “yes” to everything. Although this film was met with mixed reviews in 2008, I think the timely nature of the film’s theme of saying “yes” to life is a good message to receive during a pandemic when we have to strive to make opportunities.

Directed by award-winning Peyton Reed (“Ant-Man,” “Bring It On”), the film stars Deschanel as Allison, the love interest of Carl Allen (Carrey), while Cooper plays Carl’s good, solid friend Peter who does the right things.

Other cast members include John Michael Higgins as Nick, Rhys Darby as Norman and Terence Stamp as Terrence Bundley.

Deschanel shows off her range when her character Allison sings quirky lyrics in an on-stage performance, which brought smiles to the people in our house. Deschanel’s character is very amusing with her variety of interests, including running at the same time as taking photographs at Los Angeles’ Griffith Park.

We also liked the fact the film didn’t overplay the relationship angst. Cooper does a great job of not over-acting in the role of a responsible pal who has the guts to tell Carl to get his life together.

The fact that Carl’s ex-girlfriend’s relationship didn’t work out and she was interested in coming back wasn’t overplayed either. It just showed he had moved on, not that Carl wanted to rub it in her face.

Since there’s been a revival of the Harry Potter series for the tweens in my family, they particularly enjoyed it when Allison and Carl head to a Harry Potter party in costume in the movie—especially the fact that Carl’s outfit was too small as they only had costumes for children.

Other than one scene that might be worth a fast-forward—when Carl is confronted with a romantically inclined older neighbor—the film is PG-13 and a feel-good movie.

We were all in unison that we liked the end message—say yes, but use reason and judgment because saying yes to the wrong things will land you in trouble.

The screenplay is credited to Nicholas Stoller who later won awards for “The Muppets” in 2011 and “The Storks” in 2016, actor Jarad Paul (“The Grinder”) and Andrew Mogel (“The Grinder”). Danny Wallace wrote the memoir of the same name from which the movie is loosely adapted.

Carrey has recently published a new semi-autobiographical novel called “Memoirs and Misinformation” he co-wrote with Dana Vachon.