Carl (Jim Carrey) is a quiet man who keeps to himself avoiding everyone
, including his friends. Three years ago Carl broke up with Stephanie (Molly Sims) and has not been able to get his life back on track. Peter (Bradley Cooper), who is Carl's best pal, seems understanding of Carl's behavior until Carl forgets to show up for Peter's bachelor party.
When Carl meets up with an old friend Nick (Michael Higgins), he learns about a Yes seminar that Nick encourages him to attend. Carl, who is averse to trying everything, seems very skeptical of Nick and the idea. When Carl finally decides to attend the seminar he is made into quite a spectacle when Nick informs the group that it is Carl's first meeting.
As Carl is getting into his car after the seminar a bum asks him for a ride to which Carl must answer yes. Not knowing exactly how far to take the yes philosophy Carl ends up letting the bum use his cell phone and gives him money as well. When Carl runs out of gas after dropping the bum off in the public park he realizes he is in trouble. With a dead battery in his cell phone, Carl ends up begrudgingly walking to the nearest gas station to get gas for his car. At the gas station his lucks seems to turn around when he meets Allison (Zooey Deschanel). Allison is quite amused by Carl and agrees to give him a ride back to his car on her scooter.
Realizing that his yeses led him to Allison Carl begins to think there is something promising about his new philosophy. Carl sees the connection and begins embracing the Yes philosophy. Of course not being able to say no has its ups and downs. Carl ends up getting in a bar fight, ends up sleeping with his elderly neighbor and stays up the entire night with his friends with a solid diet of Red Bull.
The wonderfully spontaneous lifestyle comes to an end when Carl and Allison split up after she finds out he is only saying yes to things out of obligation. The break-up helps Carl see the true meaning behind the Yes philosophy which is to open your mind to saying yes but not necessarily to everything. With this new discovery Carl runs back to Allison and asks for another chance which she can't deny him.
If you are looking for a light-hearted comedy to watch with your significant other check out Jim Carrey in Yes Man. There are countless laughs and even some well placed romantic moments. There is also a great relationship component in the film as Zooey and Carrey have a fun and interesting on screen chemistry.