Ten Inch Hero (Spoilers, ho!)
Feb. 19th, 2009 09:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
feliciakwWell. After much waiting and wondering and a bit of frustration, I was finally able to see Ten Inch Hero. Geo brought it home from Blockbuster last night, and we sat down and gave it a look-see.
And you know what? It's really a delightful little indie romantic comedy. We chuckled and chortled out loud quite often, and at one point, I actually laughed heartily out loud (though I now can't remember at what . . . ). The acting was solid, the characters were engaging, the cinematography was good, and the story was sufficiently layered and original.
Where to start? Well, one of the first things I noticed and commented on is how bright the movie's color scheme is. Very inviting, particularly with the beach and ocean landscapes. Bright colors running throughout, and it's just really visually appealing.
Also, the layers in the storyline really impressed me. It's multi-generational and multi-statused (hey, it's a word if I want it to be. :-) ). There's the late-blossoming romance of Trucker and Zo. There's the unwed mother searching for her child, who falls in love with the single father. There's the girl who's never been in a serious relationship because she lacks self-confidence and probably has never had anyone express an interest in her like that. There's the misunderstood guy who is part of the group, but not, and often overlooked as little more than the token guy in the group, rather than a man who can offer the man's point of view in these little dramas, and who can see how these girls are screwing up their opportunities. And the tart, who, if she looked around her and held herself to higher standards, could have ended up with a nice guy a lot sooner.
Elisabeth Harnois is a very pretty girl.
Oh! I remember what Geo and I laughed so hard at: the expression on Priestly's face when Jen points out that unfertilized eggs are merely a bi-product of a chicken's menstrual cycle. I thought we were gonna fall off the couch. Plus, that was so totally a conversation I can see my Aunt J2 taking part in. She would have really liked Zo.
Jen's monologue at the picnic table on the beach almost had me in tears. Why? Because I can totally relate. I spent a lot of my teen years feeling kinda unattractive next to my much prettier cousins. I was never really the one guys noticed. Then a few years back, even after being happily married, when I was hanging out with someone whom guys automatically took notice of when she walked in a room, those old insecurities got stirred up. It's childish, but its real. And I completely understood where Jen was coming from in telling Tish and Piper that they couldn't understand because they were both pretty. (Still, it was rude of her to leave the guy hanging without so much as a word.)
Then we get back to the shop, and Priestly puts the whammy on me by pointing out the opposing view--that Jen didn't like being pigeon-holed because of her looks, but that's exactly what she did to Fuzzy because he was attractive. Oh, Priestly. Underneath the painted mohawk and the multiple facial piercings, you're a very astute, sensitive guy. Why are you hiding?
And Priestly plays matchmaker. Go Priestly.
Also? Jensen is fairly hilarious.
Also, also? Jensen looks incredibly young once Priestly cleans up. And he cleans up nice. (But then, we knew that. Right?)
And for the record? Boaz is a strong Biblical name, dude. Okay, maybe not something you want to be called by, and you don't really look like a Bo, but do the research. Your namesake was really quite awesome.
And? Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls? Gangster/gambler extraordinaire? His name was Obadiah. So there ya go.
Now, there were a few things in the movie I really could have done without. Like the sex scenes and nudity. Full-nudity sex scenes really do nothing for me. I'd much rather have the suggestion (however strong that suggestion might be) than the full-on "bam, there you go. See? We're not afraid to show the sex." Because in this case? There really wasn't a need for it. I mean, I suppose the argument could be made that it was necessary to show the level of Tish's promiscuity, and the lack of artistic treatment shows the lack of care Tish puts into it. But still. For me, that's reaching. I'd much prefer scenes along the lines of what we get in SPN, for example. Where, yeah, they let you know what's going on, but they also don't have to (because they're not allowed to) show you everything.
And there was one more element that I was very disappointed in on a personal level. Izhi, you can probably figure out what that was.
Also, apropos to nothing, I really wish the people who keep saying that Jensen and Danneel met while they were doing TIH would pay attention. Jensen and Danneel are listed as both having worked on "Plight of Clownana" (2004), and at the time the behind-the-scene interviews for TIH were done, Danneel says she and Jensen have been friends for 4 years. *sigh* But I digress.
As the end credits were rolling, I asked Geo what he thought. He said it was a cute little movie, and said, "Why did it take them so long to find a distributor?"
Ah. Isn't that a good question. This should have been able to hit the art house circuit, at the very least.
I think this is one I'm going to have to add to my little indie collection when it's available for purchase. It can go on the shelf right next to Going Shopping and Maze.
And you know what? It's really a delightful little indie romantic comedy. We chuckled and chortled out loud quite often, and at one point, I actually laughed heartily out loud (though I now can't remember at what . . . ). The acting was solid, the characters were engaging, the cinematography was good, and the story was sufficiently layered and original.
Where to start? Well, one of the first things I noticed and commented on is how bright the movie's color scheme is. Very inviting, particularly with the beach and ocean landscapes. Bright colors running throughout, and it's just really visually appealing.
Also, the layers in the storyline really impressed me. It's multi-generational and multi-statused (hey, it's a word if I want it to be. :-) ). There's the late-blossoming romance of Trucker and Zo. There's the unwed mother searching for her child, who falls in love with the single father. There's the girl who's never been in a serious relationship because she lacks self-confidence and probably has never had anyone express an interest in her like that. There's the misunderstood guy who is part of the group, but not, and often overlooked as little more than the token guy in the group, rather than a man who can offer the man's point of view in these little dramas, and who can see how these girls are screwing up their opportunities. And the tart, who, if she looked around her and held herself to higher standards, could have ended up with a nice guy a lot sooner.
Elisabeth Harnois is a very pretty girl.
Oh! I remember what Geo and I laughed so hard at: the expression on Priestly's face when Jen points out that unfertilized eggs are merely a bi-product of a chicken's menstrual cycle. I thought we were gonna fall off the couch. Plus, that was so totally a conversation I can see my Aunt J2 taking part in. She would have really liked Zo.
Jen's monologue at the picnic table on the beach almost had me in tears. Why? Because I can totally relate. I spent a lot of my teen years feeling kinda unattractive next to my much prettier cousins. I was never really the one guys noticed. Then a few years back, even after being happily married, when I was hanging out with someone whom guys automatically took notice of when she walked in a room, those old insecurities got stirred up. It's childish, but its real. And I completely understood where Jen was coming from in telling Tish and Piper that they couldn't understand because they were both pretty. (Still, it was rude of her to leave the guy hanging without so much as a word.)
Then we get back to the shop, and Priestly puts the whammy on me by pointing out the opposing view--that Jen didn't like being pigeon-holed because of her looks, but that's exactly what she did to Fuzzy because he was attractive. Oh, Priestly. Underneath the painted mohawk and the multiple facial piercings, you're a very astute, sensitive guy. Why are you hiding?
And Priestly plays matchmaker. Go Priestly.
Also? Jensen is fairly hilarious.
Also, also? Jensen looks incredibly young once Priestly cleans up. And he cleans up nice. (But then, we knew that. Right?)
And for the record? Boaz is a strong Biblical name, dude. Okay, maybe not something you want to be called by, and you don't really look like a Bo, but do the research. Your namesake was really quite awesome.
And? Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls? Gangster/gambler extraordinaire? His name was Obadiah. So there ya go.
Now, there were a few things in the movie I really could have done without. Like the sex scenes and nudity. Full-nudity sex scenes really do nothing for me. I'd much rather have the suggestion (however strong that suggestion might be) than the full-on "bam, there you go. See? We're not afraid to show the sex." Because in this case? There really wasn't a need for it. I mean, I suppose the argument could be made that it was necessary to show the level of Tish's promiscuity, and the lack of artistic treatment shows the lack of care Tish puts into it. But still. For me, that's reaching. I'd much prefer scenes along the lines of what we get in SPN, for example. Where, yeah, they let you know what's going on, but they also don't have to (because they're not allowed to) show you everything.
And there was one more element that I was very disappointed in on a personal level. Izhi, you can probably figure out what that was.
Also, apropos to nothing, I really wish the people who keep saying that Jensen and Danneel met while they were doing TIH would pay attention. Jensen and Danneel are listed as both having worked on "Plight of Clownana" (2004), and at the time the behind-the-scene interviews for TIH were done, Danneel says she and Jensen have been friends for 4 years. *sigh* But I digress.
As the end credits were rolling, I asked Geo what he thought. He said it was a cute little movie, and said, "Why did it take them so long to find a distributor?"
Ah. Isn't that a good question. This should have been able to hit the art house circuit, at the very least.
I think this is one I'm going to have to add to my little indie collection when it's available for purchase. It can go on the shelf right next to Going Shopping and Maze.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-02-19 04:50 pm (UTC)I did wish they had fleshed out Tish's character just a little more. Someone who does that kind of bed-hopping usually has some deep scars underneath, and I found myself wishing I knew more of her story. Priestly too. But I realize there's only so much time they can work with and even without delving into their past stories the characters still worked for me.
I loved that wacky little shop and the people in it. And I laugh every single time I see Priestly go on his "mission" to the store.