Movie review
March 11, 2021 · 86 min · PG
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The story is a basic family comedy about overworked parents who agree to a single "Yes Day" of saying yes to their kids' wild requests to rebuild fun and connection. The only noticeable element is deliberate mixed Latino/white family casting that the director highlighted as representing a typical diverse American household without stereotypes or lectures. No identity-driven plots, no activist dialogue, no girlboss sermons, no institutional critiques of patriarchy or systemic anything. The narrative sticks strictly to light parenting comedy and chaotic family adventures.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for YES DAY.
Woke representation / casting
Director intentionally cast mixed Latino/white family for positive diverse rep of "typical" American family; fits LA setting and premise naturally with no mismatches, swaps, or on-screen signaling.
Woke political dialogue
None; all dialogue and conflict is standard family/parenting comedy with zero activist or political lines.
Identity-driven story themes
Core story engine is pure family bonding and chaotic kid wishes for one day; no identity, representation, or social-justice arcs at all.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Light parenting dynamic of mom as "bad cop" due to protectiveness; resolved positively with no modern activist framing of gender roles, male entitlement, patriarchy, or systemic oppression.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No backlash claiming too woke or forced identity politics; complaints are absent or limited to generic family-film critiques.
Creator track record context
Director's Beatriz at Dinner shows some history with identity/political themes, providing light supporting context for the representation casting choice here.
Production
