The Yes Men (2003)

Anti-corporate activists travel from conference to conference, impersonating member of the World Trade Organization.

Directors:

Dan Ollman, Sarah Price

Stars:

Andreas Bichlbauer, Mike Bonanno, Andy Bichlbaum

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Mike Bonanno	...	Self
Andy Bichlbaum	...	Self
Michael Moore	...	Self
Marco Deseriis	...	Self
Wago Kreider	...	Self
Patrick Lichty	...	Self
Matt McElligott	...	Self
Ryan McKinley	...	Self
Laura Nix	...	Self
Bob Ostertag	...	Self
Sal Salamone	...	Self
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Phil Bayly	...	Self - Chicago News Reporter
Andreas Bichlbauer	...	Self (as Dr. Andreas Bichlbauer)
Philip De Lorenzo	...	Self - Student
Greg Palast	...	Self

Storyline

A comedic documentary which follows The Yes Men, a small group of prankster activists, as they gain world-wide notoriety for impersonating the World Trade Organization on television and at business conferences around the world. The film begins when two members of The Yes Men, Andy and Mike, set up a website that mimics the World Trade Organization's--and it's mistaken for the real thing. They play along with the ruse and soon find themselves invited to important functions as WTO representatives. Delighted to represent the organization they politically oppose, Andy and Mike don thrift-store suits and set out to shock unwitting audiences with darkly comic satire that highlights the worst aspects of global free trade.

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Plot Keywords:

parliament | president | identification card | fast food restaurant | american government | 

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Taglines:

Changing the world one prank at a time.

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Genres:

Documentary | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by The Yes Men Are Revolting (2014)

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Soundtracks

Fresh
Written & performed by Didier Leplae & Joe Wong

User Reviews

Great documentary of a comical movement with serious agenda (and a disturbing manner of executing it)

Imagine- you are a formidable investor, sitting on a Mahogany chair in your chambers and listening to the proposition of two young entrepreneurs to mass market a suit that looks like a star trek outfit with a tv-extension that is located in a very specific area of the body that IMDB reviewers tend to replace its name with signs like : *#@@$%. What would you do? Ask them politely to leave? Call security? Refer them to a Doctor?

Well, if you're one of the economic elite and those two young guys were representatives of the WTO, you would probably clap enthusiastically or, if you're a movie buff that realizes that what he watches really happened, you'd clinch your abdomen so it won't burst from laughing.

As it turns out, what ended as probably the most effective campaign against globalization, started with two guys that had plenty of spare time and very little or no will to grow up. They started an anti-bush site and it got enough resonance to encourage them to design yet another satirical site. This time, about the WTO, an organization that is considered by many (present company EXCLUDED) to be a ruthless organization that its only cause is to weaken developing countries by making them the sweatshop for wealthy corporations.

The "problem" (it turned out to be its greatest virtue) of that site was that it resembled in appearance to the WTO site. As a result, many sent inquiries regarding the WTO to the duo who, up until than, dealt with slightly minor economical dilemmas such as how many pizza toppings to order.

From then on, the sky was the limit. One of the site owners was requested to debate in a CNBC program as a representative of the WTO in favor of the globalization where he stated, with impressive eloquence, deliberately idiotic arguments in favor of the globalization.

The next two years were spent by the duo for making a crusade (which looked like it was taken out of a Monty Python movie) promoting ridiculous notions (like the idea I mentioned in the beginning of this review) to distinguished members of the business community. The Funny/Tragic (depends on the outlook) was that in most places, they had received accolades for their "initiatives" simply because they were mistaken for WTO representatives.

The movie accompanies those two crusaders lobbying against the WTO by impersonating to be its avid supporters and "exposing" its absurdity. I put parenthesis in -exposing because, as its greatest objectors, the duo never raises legitimate arguments in favor of the globalization and deliberately mocks the WTO by proposing horrific solutions to world problems on the WTO's behalf.

That issue is a very disturbing issue because even if I did support their views, I would find it unnerving to be an advocate of a slanderous attack- disguised as satire- disguised as pro WTO activity.

I choose not to debate the issue because the movie creators made the same choice. This movie's perspective is the premise that Globalization is bad and once this point is clear, the movie can switch to lighter note and becomes a light documentary that was funnier than any fictional Hollywood film I've seen in years.

Maybe I should approach this review on a lighter note and instead of dealing with the ethical aspect of the duo's actions, I can just tell you that this film will be fun even if you're not used to see documentary films on the silver screen and as an anarchistic comedy that REALLY HAPPENED, this film is well worth leaving your kids at your parents' house for 80 minutes or so. As long as you don't make a foolish mistake such as taking anything in this film, seriously.

9 out of 10 in my FilmOmeter.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

13 January 2005 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Globalisierung, nein danke! - Die 'Yes Men'

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$24,373, 26 September 2004

Gross USA:

$255,364

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$394,154

Company Credits

Production Co:

Yes Men Films LLC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min 80 min 83 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1