Jennifer Garner didn鈥檛 come up with the concept of a Yes Day. But when she and her middle daughter discovered Amy Krouse Rosenthal鈥檚 book about a crazy 24 hours where parents have to say yes to their children鈥檚 demands almost a decade ago, they were hooked. It became a beloved and exhausting annual tradition in the household.
Then a few years ago a producer friend saw one of her Yes Day 鈥渕orning after鈥� photos on Instagram and had a revelation: This should be a movie.
鈥� Yes Day,鈥� which debuts on Netflix Friday, stars Garner and Edgar Ramirez as the parents to three spirited kids, a young teenager played by Jenna Ortega and two littler ones, played by Julian Lerner and Everly Carganilla. It鈥檚 the first film Garner has produced in 10 years.
鈥淚 just went into kind of a kid mode for a really long time,鈥� Garner said. 鈥淭his the first thing I鈥檝e ever developed from scratch. Because of that, the stories in it are really personal.鈥�
During the virtual premiere, she said, her kids kept laughing at how many things had been inspired by their own Yes Days.
For Yes Day curious parents, Garner said the asks are never too crazy, mostly ice cream for breakfast and sleeping outside and whatnot. Just be forewarned, the next day you might look a little 鈥渉aggard,鈥� according to Garner.
鈥淵ou feel like you were out partying, but really you鈥檙e just hungover from being so tired,鈥� Garner said.
For 鈥淵es Day," Garner went to Miguel Arteta to direct. She鈥檇 worked with him before on 鈥淎lexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.鈥�
鈥淚 love Jen so much. She brings out the most optimistic and best part of me,鈥� Arteta said. 鈥淎nd how can you say no to a movie called 鈥榊es Day鈥�?鈥�
Arteta was the one who actually suggested that her character鈥檚 husband be of Latino descent and that their kids be biracial to more reflect a modern family. She loved the idea. He suggested Ramirez, who had never done a comedy before, but Arteta had seen sparks of comedic genius in his performance in 鈥淛oy鈥� and thought it was worth a shot.
Ramirez had never even met Garner before, but they both immediately clicked and thought, 鈥淲here have you been all my life?鈥� He also brought a lot of positive energy to the sometimes chaotic (in a good way) set and was just delighted to be doing something different.
鈥淚 love comedy as a vehicle to talk about greater subjects that are happening in society,鈥� Ramirez said. 鈥淚 am so grateful to Jen and Miguel because this is a reflection of the world we live in. In a great multi-cultural city like Los Angeles and a state like California, these are the families that you see around every day. It鈥檚 important to see that on screen.鈥�
鈥淵es Day鈥� is full of very physical hijinks, from an epic water balloon fight (which took five days to film and over 30,000 balloons) to an ice cream eating contest (during which over 40 gallons were consumed), that sometimes required stunt doubles. Garner even brought on stunt
鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to find something that鈥檚 really fun and engaging for everyone from, you know, my 15-year-old down to a little kid. And you want it to be fun to watch but you have to speak to the parents as well,鈥� Garner said. 鈥淭hat is what I鈥檓 so proud of about this movie.鈥�
They鈥檝e already heard from moms around the world just how grateful they are that the film speaks to marital dynamics.
鈥淚n a way, it鈥檚 also a love story,鈥� Ramirez said. His character in particular has to learn how to step up and help.
Arteta and Garner are currently figuring out how to work together again.
鈥淛en Garner was the best partner as a producer. This movie comes straight from her heart,鈥� said Arteta, who revealed they鈥檙e already developing a sequel. 鈥淚鈥檓 very excited because this family is really special. They do really love each other. They have that chemistry. I鈥檓 glad everybody鈥檚 up for getting back together.鈥�
___
Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
