YES DAY (L-R): BEHIND THE SCENES with JENNIFER GARNER as ALLISON TORRES, JENNA ORTEGA as KATIE TORRES, JULIAN LERNER as NANDO TORRES, EVERLY CARGANILLA as ELLIE TORRES, EDGAR RAMIREZ as CARLOS TORRES. Cr: JOHN P. JOHNSON/NETFLIX © 2021
Cover Photo: Netflix

Inspired by late author Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s book and Jennifer Garner's personal experience with Yes Days, the new Netflix movie offers some funky ideas and respite in this Covid-19 lockdown era

There’s certainly no time better than now to spread a little joy and Jennifer Garner’s endearing family flick, Yes Day, does just that.

Always feeling like they have to say "no" to their kids, hard-line mother Allison (played by Jennifer Garner) and 'good cop' father Carlos Torres (played by Edgar Ramírez) decide to give their three children a Yes Day during which the kids (played by Jenna Ortega, Julian Lerner, and Everly Carganilla) have 24 hours to make the rules.

Read more: New Netflix Original Series & Movies In March 2021

As you can imagine, it starts off fun and breezy at first but as the day progresses, Allison and Carlos realise that saying yes is really easier said than done. Little did they know, they’d end up going on a whirlwind adventure around Los Angeles together–epic car wash scene and all.

"Nope on a rope" is easily my favourite quote from Yes Day. Like Garner's character, there was a time when it was so easy to say yes to things in life. Solo travel? Yes. Attend a concert? Yes. Hug a friend? Yes. Skydiving? Well, if you're not acrophobic.

Parenthood or adulting in general, coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic and its restrictions, will have you saying "no" more than ever. "Can I go outside to play, Mom?" No. "Can I jump into a ball pit?" No. "Can I watch another cartoon?" No. "Can we have a beach holiday?" No. "Can I attend a birthday party?" Nope, nope, nope on a rope.

See also: Watch: Sarah Illyas Answers Your Questions About Parenting During MCO

“You know, you say no to your kids more times than you can even think about. There are so many No's you’re not even aware of. My kids and I have been doing Yes Day for nine years and now they really do try to embarrass me—they do my makeup, they dress me up, they send me out in public, and it’s just fun! I’m happy to do anything if they’ll all be together and be with me, I’m thrilled," Garner, who co-produced Yes Day, told Tatler Malaysia in an interview.

'gallery right' 'gallery right'
'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 3 Photo: Netflix
Photo 2 of 3 Photo: Netflix
Photo 3 of 3 Photo: Netflix

“Every time Jen talks about that, I go back to my childhood years with my Mom and it’s true­—there were so many times that I was told no," Ramírez, who took on his first comedic role in Yes Day, chimed in. "I remember going to the supermarket with my mom and I’m grabbing cookies here and there, and my mom’s just like, ‘No, no, no'."

"It’s just about feeling a certain sense of freedom, you know? And that is a beautiful thing, seeing how kids glow when you tell them for one day, you’re going to say, ‘Yes!’” he added.

Read more: Che Puan Sarimah Ibrahim: Balancing Motherhood, Wellness & Family Life One Day At A Time

So maybe for just a day, put aside that intensive parenting and take a break from no (but certain rules apply, of course). You'd be surprised how much liberation it gives not only your child(ren) but also how much liberation it gives you—especially under lockdown.

'gallery right' 'gallery right'
'gallery right' 'gallery right'
Photo 1 of 8 Photo: Netflix
Photo 2 of 8 Photo: Netflix
Photo 3 of 8 Photo: Netflix
Photo 4 of 8 Photo: Netflix
Photo 5 of 8 Photo: Netflix
Photo 6 of 8 Photo: Netflix
Photo 7 of 8 Photo: Netflix
Photo 8 of 8 Photo: Netflix

Allowing your family to have a Yes Day and granting their wishes is also a fantastic way to curb cabin fever. You won't necessarily need a tonne of activities in a big way—just things you can all do together as a family in a free-for-all agenda.

To the question about the funniest things that happened to her family on their annual Yes Days, Garner replied: "What my kids really wanted was to sit in the front seat of the car. They wanted to stand on the console of the car and put their heads out of the sunroof—not while I was driving, of course. They wanted to buy lottery tickets. They wanted to stay up really late and not make their beds. So those were the ‘Yes’-es. They were much more simple than the ones in the movie and you know what? They were just as much fun."

See also: The Most Talked-About Celebrity Siblings To Know From Malaysia

Say yes to ice cream for breakfast, let your daughter decide your 'look of the day' (do your hair and make-up, and pick out your outfit), enjoy a water balloon fight in the garden/backyard, set up a tent in your living room and pretend you're camping in the great outdoors in your backyard, give them an extra hour of TV, stay up late together.

By the end of this day full of yes, you might just gain more than your child(ren) did.

Yes Day is streaming on Netflix.

Topics