They began by ripping both George W. Bush and Barbie – now there's a winning ticket – and then found celebrity by hot-footing the World Trade Organization and globalized greed. Their effort is celebrated with festive self-amusement in "The Yes Men."
Put together by pranksters in the old Yippie spirit (remember the '60s pig that ran for president?), the film from Chris Smith, Sarah Price and Dan Ollman shows the pranking of earnest business meetings (some too corporate to dig the joke) and college classes (hipper). Often, the punch line simply leaves these people dazed.
MOVIE REVIEW
"The Yes Men"
Rated R;
Opens today
 ½
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You can agree with the snarking, and that the targets are often worthy, yet wish for wittier satire. As edge goes in 2004, this goes in the direction of Johnny Carson skit reruns.
There is something indelibly facile and even fatuous about a man getting into a gold-lamé leisure suit with an inflatable phallus, to mock the virile dynamism of corporate gluttony. Or, with visual aids, proposing the idea of selling to the Third World poverty burgers made of recycled human waste; Christopher Buckley should have been hired for a rewrite.
The film is mostly involved in the pranksters preparing and working up their nerve. Beyond doubt they are a gaily giddy bunch, minor champs of chutzpah. Michael Moore appears, like a big seal of approval, and some of the cover names used for the message pranks are almost worthy of W.C. Fields or Ernie Kovacs: Hank Hardy Unruh, Kimmithrung Sprat, Granwyth Hulantberi.
But it all smacks a little too obviously of Johnny Knoxville jackassing in a garage, or Howard Stern horsing around at less than full speed with his microphone madcaps. You never get the feeling that the mighty forces of globalization are in even the least danger, but will simply chuckle away the challenge – for kids are still saying the darndest things.
An MGM release. Directors, writers: Dan Ollman, Sarah Price, Chris Smith. Running time: 1 hr., 20 min.
