The Ten (2007)

This will not be everyone's cup o' tea. If you are an avid fan of, oh I dunno, Adam Sandler or Wil Ferrel films, then you might want to steer clear of this one.

It basically consists of 10 disparate stories that actually intertwine. Each story loosely concerns one of the 10 Commandments. Introducing each "parable" is Paul Rudd's character, who is involved in a "parable" of his own.

The comedy ranges from the scatological to the ridiculous to the satirical. At times it is a groaner and other times downright laugh-out-loud funny.

Enjoy.

Fmovies: If you grew up watching MTV's "The State" and made a cult classic out of "Wet Hot American Summer," then you'll laugh yourself silly during the latest from the same comic troupe. Others probably won't get the humor. "The Ten" is one of those rare vignette comedies, intertwining ten insanely unique and monumentally stupid sketches about the Ten Commandments.

There's plenty of the same absurdity, like when two men compete to see who can buy the most CAT-scan machines or a librarian (a fetching Gretchen Mol) loses her virginity to Jesus Christ, and random humor that made their past efforts so uproarious. What other comedy would be so daring to make such obscure jokes of Diane Wiest and Timothy Dalton? However, "The Ten" is far more scatological than some of the group's earlier work and makes "Wet Hot American Summer" seem sweet and wholesome in comparison. They also go ridiculously overboard with gay-themed humor. This troupe likes to play homosexuals in the same way that Monty Python enjoyed dressing in drag as a subversive subtext to their comic styling.

While the sketches are hit and miss, it will keep you entertained as the group plumbs the depths of low-brow humor in high-brow ways. Director David Wain spoofs everything from literary chick-flicks to gritty cop and courtroom thrillers as well as emo-indie melodramas, Woody Allen, and redemption-in-prison-weepers. There's even a quote from Shakespeare in the oddest of places. My personal favorite aspect of the film was how dead-seriously Wain directed the segment where Winona Ryder (still adorable and still with all her acting chops) has an illicit affair with a ventriloquist's dummy. The range Ryder displays to make the joke work, as well as the way in which Wain uses the camera and frames the scenes is downright astounding.

Even when the humor is faltering, they will have you laughing at how disturbing some of it gets, especially during the emotional prison sketch. Also hilarious is their desperation to create a stupid catch phrase. Take your pick of "go fly a kite," "juicing my pecs," or the destined to be classic "...as a goof." Sure, it falls apart during the last three bits, but it caps off with some hilarious original songs recalling the morals of the stories over the closing credits. Be sure to stay to the very end. I'm still laughing. I wonder if anybody else will.

Greetings again from the darkness. If you are familiar with "Wet Hot American Summer", Stella Shorts and MTV's "The State", you will have some idea what director David Wain has in store for you. Still, given the talent involved, I was amazed at the lack of creativity involved in most of the 10 vignettes loosely based on the Ten Commandments.

Even the best ideas fall flat and leave us with only a couple of chuckles. Adam Brody being implanted in the ground after a skydive, Winona Ryder shacking up with a wooden marionette, a doctor's goof that leads to his prison "romances", twin brothers learning of their odd gene pool while embracing Oliver Platt's Ah-nuld impersonation, a perky Jessica Alba, Liev Schreiber's attempts to keep up with the Jones', and Justin Theroux as Jesus H. Christ all had potential for true insight into human nature. Instead we are force fed a few quick hits in the "Reno 911" mold.

The ongoing between commandment scenes with Paul Rudd and Famke Jansson could have been classic, and a few scenes with Gretchen Mol will usually save a film. I appreciate the concept but am saddened by the result.

The Ten fmovies. Man I love it when a movie kicks the crap out of me with laughter. This was a good time. A couple walkouts were serenaded by the hysterics of everyone around me -- that's how you know it's good. People who can't laugh at a movie making fun of the general terribleness of most movies should be lonely forever. The 'straight' actors in this had the dedication of kamikaze pilots. Liev Schriever should be given whatever's just above an Oscar -- so, like, Wendy's coupons. He is brilliant. Winona Ryder should be given coupons as well. She completely embarrasses herself in the funniest sex scene anyone has ever conceived. Body Heat ain't got nothing' on Miss Ryder. Really, if you like any State-stuff or genuinely like Monty Python, there's no reason you won't get your money's worth.

(Mild Spoilers)

Okay, David Wain's "The Ten" isn't attempting to redefine the genre of sketch comedy or satire, nor does it pass judgement on the religious iconography it uses as a template. It merely cheekily plays with the idea of the commandments in a smutty and more often than not, unique way. What I think the strongest part of this film is, is its pre-occupation with the perverse and how one can play that out on screen. The repetition of the Spanish word for vagina, Winona Ryder's hysterical relationship with that dummy, Oliver Platt's "Arnie" impression, Liev Schreiber's cat scan machines and the untimely death of hundreds of children, are all irreverent and interesting approaches to the lessons or moral codes of the ten commandments. Whilst some are better executed than others, I particularly appreciated the astute connection between the "Adultery" segment and Woody Allen's films. The use of the stamp jazz soundtrack as the camera moves down a busy New York street, the inclusion of Dianne Weist as a needy wife, and the self-indulgence of our two infidels all really hit the mark. Even their dialogue seems to be mocking Allen's neurotic adulterous characters. Which, as a Woody Allen fan, I really got into.

If for anything else, one should give "The Ten" a go for its wonderful utilisation of well- known actors for comedy. They seem to really be holding absolutely nothing back, and that is actually a thrilling experience to watch. Particularly the work of Winona Ryder, whose drive off into the sunset with no hands on her steering wheel, crying and laughing like a lunatic whilst sitting next to her lover, a wooden dummy, got me so giggly I couldn't breathe.

I saw this film at the Cleveland Film Festival this past weekend I thought this was by far the best film I have seen in a long time. I laughed the entire time and there wasn't a boring part. This movie never slowed down. Each of the ten stories was brilliantly written and the cast was great! I liked that each of the story was totally off the wall and didn't follow the "traditional" meanings of the ten commandments. I absolutely love this film! I recommend everyone to see this film when/if it comes out to the mainstream. I thought Paul Rudd was great as the the narrator. I wish there would have been more scenes with Wynnona Rider and Adam Brody. Famke Jenssesn's roll was brilliant. I think anything David Wain does is great and I can't wait to see his next project.