The Ten perhaps deserves no major acclaim–as a sketchy chapter-driven film, it misses often enough to make it casually pleasurable. But it’s never less than amiably and enjoyably silly, and there are a few bits that are amazing, especially Liev Schrieber as a suburban homeowner sucked into a competition with his neighbor over CAT-scans. And it makes casual fun out of religious law, anal rape, and the death of children — what’s not to love? Certainly worth your time, although I’ll recommend Smiley Face again as being the best bet for funny-films-that-did-poorly-at-the-box-office-and-are-now-available-on-dvd.
I also have been watching The Love Bug with Max, who John is probably wondering about. I forgot the power of Dean Jones. And there’s a scene where Herbie tries to commit suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. The car actually perches on the railing, teetering precariously over the Bay. Hilarity! Now I’m going to queue up The Apple Dumpling Gang for its long-forgotten opium-withdrawal scene, Knotts and Conway wracked with feverish rage….