Never trust a web site a web site you found through Google too much. For all you know you are currently reading a movie review by a corrupt executive attempting to peddle his product to you. However many people are all too easily lured in by a well designed web site. This is how spoof web site designers Andy Bochlbauer and Mike Bonanno got to appear a number of conferences as spokesmen for the world trade organisation, a body they are openly mocking.
The Yes Men follows Bochlbauer and Bonanno as they jet across the world trying to think up increasingly ridiculous things to say under the guise of the WTO. The film is more of a promotional video for the pranksters rather than a documentary as it never questions their motives or tries to get inside their lives. In this way it is a lesser film than the makers previous work American Movie.
The lack of insight into the protagonists life leaves the films appeal based solely on The Yes Men's pranks. Thankfully their combination of gaul, ingenuity and and amateurism make for compelling viewing. After making an absurd but downbeat speech at their first conference they are amazed when no-one tries to throw them out of the building. In fact no-one bats an eye-lid. They either don't care and don't think there is anything strange with what they are saying. This spurs The Yes Men on to more outrageous acts involving bizarre costumes, burgers made of human excrement and presentations claiming that third world factories are merely cost efficient slavery.
Whilst their absurdity has clear messages about the global trade policies the film never explores the role of WTO in any great depth than a 60 second description by Michael Moore, hardly the king of objective fact. The Yes Men will make light entertaining viewing for anyone with worries about the reach of corporations. What it lacks in depth it makes up for in good natured spirit.