"10" is not an unpleasant movie to watch. It has several humorous moments, a largely likable cast and a good performance - frankly, I thought it was the best of the movie - from Julie Andrews, in a role that pushed her far beyond what her fans would have been used to seeing her in - fare such as "The Sound Of Music" or "Mary Poppins." You could even say that it's an interesting reflection on middle age. But at the same time there's an uncomfortable quality to this movie; it has a bit of "creepiness" to it that made this less than fully enjoyable.
Dudley Moore played George Webber - a music composer who's just celebrated his 42nd birthday and who finds himself dissatisfied with life. He has everything a man could realistically want. He's successful in his career, he has friends and he seems to have all the toys, and he has Samantha (Andrews), his quite beautiful girlfriend who he frustrates with his inability (or refusal) to emotionally connect. For all that he has, George comes across as sad and lonely, and in spite of the fact that he should be very happy (what more does he need?) he becomes suddenly infatuated with a bride (Bo Derek) who he spies when her limo stops at a red light beside his car. To him, she's the perfect "10" on a scale of 1-10 (hence, the movie's name.) It was this infatuation that gave the movie it's creepy feel (although the arrangement he apparently had with a guy to spy on each other with telescopes - which gave the move much of its mildly erotic feel - also added to that.) In spite of the fact that Jenny is just married, George's infatuation turns into pursuit - you could even call it stalking. He goes out of his way to find out who she was and where she went on her honeymoon, follows her there, claims a spot beside her on the beach (all the better to ogle her from), and manages to save her husband's life for no other reason it seems than to get her into bed with him. In my view, the whole thing could have been done in a way that would have been more consistent with this being the romantic comedy that most people think of it as. It certainly has its sensitive moments (and the requisite happy ending as George seems to overcome his mid-life crisis) and, as I said, it is humorous at times, but that whole plot just gave this a very heavy and uneasy feel to me.
Andrews, as I said, was the highlight of the movie for me. She has a couple of opportunities to display her vocal talents and she just comes across as a very lovely woman whose character is understandably hurt by George's dissatisfaction with their relationship. Moore was Moore. I've never been a huge fan. He played the part well. Derek? Well, in all honesty she's not an actress who's ever really turned my head and her career - while it's been lengthy - hasn't really been filled with major successes either. Frankly, she was cast as a body in this movie. The first hour and a half goes by with her getting her share of screen time but literally no dialogue at all. Once she gets dialogue - she's competent enough, but her character turns out to be not very likable.
It's not a bad movie. It was easy to get through and I never turned away from it. It has a fair bit of relatively innocent nudity, a lot of drinking and some drugs. To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what it was that made this movie such a hit among audiences and reviewers. I'd consider it quite over-rated. It's not a 10. It's a 5 out of 10.
Dudley Moore played George Webber - a music composer who's just celebrated his 42nd birthday and who finds himself dissatisfied with life. He has everything a man could realistically want. He's successful in his career, he has friends and he seems to have all the toys, and he has Samantha (Andrews), his quite beautiful girlfriend who he frustrates with his inability (or refusal) to emotionally connect. For all that he has, George comes across as sad and lonely, and in spite of the fact that he should be very happy (what more does he need?) he becomes suddenly infatuated with a bride (Bo Derek) who he spies when her limo stops at a red light beside his car. To him, she's the perfect "10" on a scale of 1-10 (hence, the movie's name.) It was this infatuation that gave the movie it's creepy feel (although the arrangement he apparently had with a guy to spy on each other with telescopes - which gave the move much of its mildly erotic feel - also added to that.) In spite of the fact that Jenny is just married, George's infatuation turns into pursuit - you could even call it stalking. He goes out of his way to find out who she was and where she went on her honeymoon, follows her there, claims a spot beside her on the beach (all the better to ogle her from), and manages to save her husband's life for no other reason it seems than to get her into bed with him. In my view, the whole thing could have been done in a way that would have been more consistent with this being the romantic comedy that most people think of it as. It certainly has its sensitive moments (and the requisite happy ending as George seems to overcome his mid-life crisis) and, as I said, it is humorous at times, but that whole plot just gave this a very heavy and uneasy feel to me.
Andrews, as I said, was the highlight of the movie for me. She has a couple of opportunities to display her vocal talents and she just comes across as a very lovely woman whose character is understandably hurt by George's dissatisfaction with their relationship. Moore was Moore. I've never been a huge fan. He played the part well. Derek? Well, in all honesty she's not an actress who's ever really turned my head and her career - while it's been lengthy - hasn't really been filled with major successes either. Frankly, she was cast as a body in this movie. The first hour and a half goes by with her getting her share of screen time but literally no dialogue at all. Once she gets dialogue - she's competent enough, but her character turns out to be not very likable.
It's not a bad movie. It was easy to get through and I never turned away from it. It has a fair bit of relatively innocent nudity, a lot of drinking and some drugs. To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what it was that made this movie such a hit among audiences and reviewers. I'd consider it quite over-rated. It's not a 10. It's a 5 out of 10.