Westside Messenger - March 21st, 2021

PAGE 10 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - March 21, 2021
In Entertainment
“Yes Day” features family-friendly silliness
As a childless spinster, I am not exactly
the target audience for a family-friendly
flick about cautious parents who allow
their children to experience a day wherein
they call the shots. And yet, “Yes Day” was
appealing to me in the same way it was
marketed to appeal to those raising small
humans — as an opportunity to shut off
your brain with some mindless, semihumorous
and mildly entertaining fluff.
This sweet but simple film begins at a
time in one’s life when things can be, well,
simpler. Single-gal Allison (Jennifer
Garner) is having all of the fun in the
world. In fact, her motto is to say “yes” to
everything. If you want to go skydiving,
she’s game. If you want to jump on the line
and go dancing, she’s there. If you want to
swap coffee cups that have already been
sipped, well, she’s living by pre-pandemic
rules.
Life, it appears, is great and it only gets
better when she meets and marries Carlos
(Edgar Ramirez), a man who shares her
zest for adventure. Soon, the happily married
couple decide to expand their little
family and then they become married…
with children.
Shortly after giving birth, Allison’s
motto of saying “yes” to everything has
transitioned into saying “no” to everything
her children want. When her eldest wants
to go places solo, it’s “nope; I’ll go with.”
When her youngest wants to parade outside
and show off her glittering cape it’s
“no; in the house only.” And when her middle
child wants to do science experiments
in the house, it’s “nope on a rope.”
While seemingly content with her ability
to say no, her children have a less favorable
view of Allison’s favorite word. She
only comes to understand how deeply they
feel about it during Parent Teacher Night,
a.k.a. the best night to break news about
children to their parents.
During a discussion with their teachers,
Allison learns that their eldest Katie
(Jenna Ortega), has written a haiku comparing
herself to a caged bird while Nando
(Julian Lerner), their middle child, has
made a video comparing her to infamous
dictators. Youngest Ellie (Everly
Carganilla) is not yet in school so she has
little to add about her parenting skills.
Shocked by her children’s art-inspired
assessment, she wonders what she can do
to prove that she is not the “fun killer” she
has been made out to be. While talking it
over with Carlos, a.k.a. the “fun dad” who
never wants to be the bad guy who says no
because that is what he does all day at
work, they learn of a so-called “fun day”
wherein they cannot say no to their children’s
requests for 24 hours.
Naturally, Allison says no to this but
changes her mind when she sees how excited
her children are by the prospect. But
before they can get this fun day, they have
to earn it through homework and chores. It
also comes with ground rules like making a
budget, don’t request activities outside of a
20-mile radius, don’t ask for future things,
and don’t commit crimes.
With a premise that invites all kinds of
child-related and parent-agonizing chaos,
“Yes Day” chooses the tamest kind — ice
cream for breakfast, glitter makeovers, car
washes with the windows open (apparently
upholstery costs were budgeted items?)
and family outings where kids get to see
how cool their mom can be. But sprinkled
throughout all of these mild activities that
L KING
FOR WESTSIDE MESSENGER?
Pick-Up At These Locations:
Certified Gas Station - 3911 Sullivant Ave. Krogers - Georgesville Square & I-270
Hilltop Library - 511 S. Hague
Turkey Hill - Clime & Georgesville
Walgreens - Broad St & Hague Ave.
United Dairy Farmers - Clime & Demorest
Dairy Mart - 2585 W. Broad St.
Walgreens - Clime & Demorest
N & N Market - 2240 Sullivant Ave.
Certified Gas Station - Demorest & Briggs
Certified Gas Station - Orel & Broad St.
Westland Library - Lincoln Village Plaza
Dutchess Shoppe - Clime & Harrisburg
Giant Eagle - Lincoln Village Plaza
Certified Gas Station - Hardy Parkway & Frank Rd.
READ US ONLINE: www.columbusmessenger.com
The Reel Deal
Dedra Cordle
serve as bonding
experiences for the
Torres family is the
undercurrent of tension
between Allison
and her 14-year-old
daughter Katie,
which also serves as
a side plot in this plot-light movie. The duo
butt heads nearly the entire film, as mother-and-daughter
often will, and most of it
stems from Katie’s desire to explore some
independence while Allison clings on, and
sometimes a little too tightly. Though “Yes
Day” doesn’t explore these themes in
depth, it adds for an interesting contrast in
comparison to the rest of the zany hijinks
therein.
This is not a film that is likely to stay
entrenched in your mind, especially for
those who do not have to constantly say no
to human offspring. But “Yes Day” does
what it sets out to do — offers a brief respite
with a mindless film that features silliness
and the occasional laugh-out-loud moment.
Grade: C
Dedra Cordle is a Messenger staff writer
and columnist.
news and notes
Checkout Challenge at CML
Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML)
will celebrate National Library Week from
April 4-10 with virtual events for the whole
family, plus a Checkout Challenge encouraging
CML customers to achieve 100,000
checkouts during the week.
Starting April 4, each person who
checks out one item or more will automatically
be entered into a drawing to win a
$100 gift card from Kroger. One winner
will be notified from each of CML’s 23 locations
after National Library Week. One
entry per person.
“This year, National Library Week truly
is a celebration,” said CML Chief
Community Engagement Officer Donna
Zuiderweg. “After months of hardship for
so many in our community, our doors are
open, and we want to welcome our customers
back and do what we’ve always
done: connect them with great books.”
In addition to the Checkout Challenge,
CML is celebrating National Library Week
with several virtual events throughout the
week. For more information on those
events, visit www.columbuslibrary.org.
www.columbusmessenger.com
Pets of the Week
Bruno is the shelter’s
longest-term
resident. He’s a
chunky, spunky boy
who just loves to
run around and get
belly rubs. He
attends playgroups
at the shelter, but
can be selective with his friends. Bruno
would do best with someone who can
walk him daily and provide a nice comfy
area for him to crash on at the end of the
day. Bruno is an absolute goofball and
your world will be filled with laughter when
you take him home. He is housebroken
and loves car rides. Adopt him from the
Franklin County Dog Shelter.
FYI: www.franklincountydogs.com
Pico is a 9-year-old
chihuahua who is a
shy boy. He is still
adjusting to being in
a shelter, so his
behavior is a little
quiet and reserved.
Once Pico is in a
new home, he may
relax and become
much more social,
or he may need a little more time and
patience to come out of his shell. This senior
boy is just looking for a quiet place to
relax. Pico is up for adoption at the
Franklin County Dog Shelter.
FYI: www.franklincountydogs.com
Marley is a very
social cat. He is the
perfect couch companion,
content to
spend hours chilling
with his human. He
also has a playful
side and enjoys
catching his catnip
mice. This easy
going boy is 3 years old. He’s neutered,
microchipped, and up to date on vaccines.
Marley is up for adoption through Colony
Cats.
FYI: www.colonycats.org
Jennie was found
as a stray but wishes
for a home with a
loving family. She is
gentle and very
sweet. She wants to
be adored. This
sweet gal is about 8
months old. She is
up for adoption
through Colony
Cats. You can meet
her at their cagefree
adoption center.
FYI: www.colonycats.org