10 (1979)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Would this movie even be remembered if it weren't for Bo Derek? Let's face it she simply isn't that good of an actress, and perhaps should never be allowed to emote on screen. Dudley is funny as usual, but this just isn't a great movie.

When I was a kid, we had all sorts of books on classic movies around our house. Of the many that piqued my interest then was "10," for whatever the reason. Maybe it was seeing a young Bo Derek (who is a figure of Summerfest in Milwaukee, where I live) coming up from the sea. After my brother and I sat down to watch this some time later, it was very much of a let-down and wasn't even appropriately titled.Another Blake Edwards movie, it features Dudley Moore as a typical soul who falls into a mid-life crisis and questions his life choices. He has a great S.O. named Sam (Julie Andrews) who puts up with him every single day but doesn't mind it. One thing leads to another and he separates from her and goes down to Mexico to gather himself.He has a run-in with an old friend named Mary (Dee Wallace) and try to have some fun together, but it doesn't work. Then comes the iconic scene where he's on the beach and he runs across Jenny Miles (Bo Derek in her heyday). The two get to talking and they have a romantic night together; the only thing that Mr. Moore doesn't know about Jenny is that she's married. The straw that breaks the camel's back is when the two have a great night together and she gets a call from her husband. True to form, the two break it off and never speak to each other again. He then heads back to Sam to rekindle their relationship, which surprises her to no end.I would hardly call this a comedy. "Victor Victoria" was a comedy. Here it just seems like Dudley, Bo, and Julie were just phoning it in. Blake, too. This movie just drones on and on and is probably the inspiration for the later movie "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." Julie was in here for all of maybe 20-25 minutes, hardly worth a credit. Bo was in here for about the same time and not much of the focus was really on her, contrary to popular belief. The one who demanded the most attention was Dudley, who literally had to be in every single scene. In all fairness, that was hardly necessary.As I stated in my title, I wouldn't even call this "10" or give it a 10. It is a typical droning movie that has no real comedy. When it all comes down to it, it is just putting a real mid-life crisis to film and nothing more. This doesn't even belong in the same class as "Victor Victoria" or anything else that Blake may have done.

Director Blake Edwards has made numerous comedy films which have compelled viewers to have a good laugh about their weaknesses.'The Party' is considered to be one of his most successful films.It featured British comedy actor Peter Sellers.In the making of '10',it seems that Blake Edwards has tried to recreate his winning formula but this film about the handling of the midlife crisis by a nerdy musician fails badly as it was not able to differentiate between lust and love.What might irk viewers the most is that this film's midlife crisis segment has been handled in a very amateurish manner. 10 is a comedy with a difference but it is not a slapstick genre comedy.The entire film is aimed at letting viewers know how a man is able to choose between naked women and true love ? Apart from feeling of admiration found in men as well as women,Blake Edwards' 10 tells that there is a voyeur in all of us.It is because of this voyeur that there is also a mad man in all of us.In the film,it is British actor Dudley Moore who plays both parts with reckless abandon.

Though he will probably always be remembered for 1981's ARTHUR, my favorite Dudley Moore performance is still from the 1979 Blake Edwards classic "10". Moore plays George Webber, a man who seemingly has it all: a flourishing career as a songwriter, money, a gorgeous home, an equally gorgeous girlfriend (Julie Andrews), but still feels like something is missing in his life. Then one day, while stopped at a traffic signal, he glances at a girl (Bo Derek)in a limo, on her way to her wedding. George becomes obsessed with this vision, this perfect "10" and forsakes everything in his life, including Andrews, to find and be with this woman. After getting six fillings drilled by the girl's dentist/father (James Noble), in an attempt to learn where the girl went on her honeymoon, George flies to Mexico to find his "10" and eventually learns the lessons you would expect from such a venture. In addition to some great physical comedy offered by Moore, there are moments of great warmth here too. The scenes at the outdoor bar in Mexico where Dudley encounters a lonely woman (Dee Wallace) and plays the piano are lovely. Brian Dennehy is effectively cast against type as the bartender. Also cast against type is Robert Webber as George's gay songwriting partner who tries in vain to make George see what an idiot he is and appreciate the things he has. This IS not just a smarmy sex comedy, but a warm character study of a man chasing something he really doesn't want or need and features one of Dudley Moore's most charming performances.