10 YEARS
DIRECTOR: Jamie Linden
CAST: Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Rosario Dawson, Ari Graynor, Chris Pratt, Justin Long, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac and Kate Mara
CLASSIFICATION: 13 LD
RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes
RATING: **
American ensemble movies tend to be forgettable. Take New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day, or any of those that have 15 minutes of Halle Berry included, for instance. This is likely to be the fate of this movie which stars a whole lot of people.
The plot is simple: a group of friends who no longer live near each other (never mind hang out) meet in their home town for their high school 10-year reunion.
Predictably, things have changed. Even though no one tells lies of Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion proportions, not everyone is happy with who they have become since they left school. Others, like drunkard and new dad, Cully (Pratt), who was a school bully of note, haven’t changed a bit.
Channing Tatum (pictured) is one of the co-producers of this doozy and stars as Jake, the one-time prom king who actually wasn’t a douche. It helps to have hubby on the production team, it seems, as Mrs Tatum, Jenna Dewan, stars as Jess – Jake’s new girlfriend and date to the reunion.
She’s not fazed by Jake’s high school sweetheart, Mary (Dawson), and elsewhere, formerly unrequited love is returned when chart-topping singer, Reeves (Isaac) and Elise (Mara), finally give each other a chance. There is eye-candy on the big screen for more than an hour-and-a-half, but it’s probably the nerds who steal the show. Marty (Long) and AJ (Minghella) didn’t come to play. Sharing a healthy competitive nature, the pair are keen to show off how successful they’ve become since they were geeky – even if it means they have to pour liquor into Cully’s baby bottles just to drink and drive. They balance the cheesy scenarios, complemented by warm-toned cinematography, with genuinely funny comments and actions.
What’s definitely not funny, but milked for all it’s worth, is Anthony Mackie playing the stereotypical token black guy. Complete with yo-yos and a trusty “wigga” who breakdances. Lame. Like the sound-track which, at best, is all over the place. From Bubba Sparxxx to Chris de Burgh and even Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the songs don’t match the scenes. So approach with caution.
If you liked American Reunion, you might find this funnier.