The Whole Ten Yards

After the fun time I had watching The Whole Nine Yards, I was looking forward to seeing The Whole Ten Yards. But I watched it last night and I was pretty much disappointed with where they took the story. It just seemed like they took the characters and turned them into something completely different. For me, I'm such a Bruce Willis fan, so when I saw him growing and acting like a bull while he was drunk in one scene, I didn't laugh, I actually wanted to cry for him, it was pretty pathetic what they did to this cool, smooth, charismatic hit man that we knew and loved in the first film. The script and story was just up to par like the first film was, in fact, I would've appreciated it if they just left The Whole Nine Yards alone if they really felt like this one had a chance for a great comedy.

Jimmy has changed from this tough guy hit man to a Martha Stuart and Jill is not happy with it. Oz and Cynthia are in a quiet life in hiding from the gangsters. Lazlo is out of prison and wants revenge, so he "kidnaps" Cynthia and now Jimmy, Jill, and Oz get together to save her only to find out there are more twists and turns than they expected. But Jimmy has to go deep back into his roots of being the tough guy, not Mr. Clean.

Now don't get me wrong, The Whole Ten Yards has a few laughs here and there, but for the most part I just actually felt bad for Bruce Willis with the silly attempt to be a soft like Martha Stuart type of guy, he's just such a great tough guy, it's hard to see him as anything else. Matthew Perry wasn't as fun as he was in the first movie and neither was Amanda, it just seems like everyone lost their magic and chemistry with each other in this film. I really wish that I loved this film, but I'm having a hard time, I'm sorry.

4/10

THE WHOLE TEN YARDS (2004) Bruce Willis, Matthew Perry, Kevin Pollock, et al

This is one more example that 'More is NOT Better'! Nine Yards was entertaining, the jokes worked. Ten Yards is so bad that we walked away before the ending.

Although the same cast returns for this second bout, this one is boring, with loud yelling throughout, no chemistry, a waste of talented actors, and, a waste of our money.

Reading other comments, apparently some folks liked it. We give it a portion of one star. Our recommendation: Save your money, or wait until it's free and you have absolutely nothing better to do.

This black comedy concerns a notorious hit-man named John 'the Tulip' (Bruce Willis) , he's living retired when his previous neighbor Nicholas Oz (Matthew Perry) asks him for help. His wife Cynthia (Natasha Henstridge) has been kidnapped by the Hungarian mobster named Lazlo (Kevin Pollack) and looking for revenge . Lazlo sends his son Strabo (Frank Collison) , but he's abducted by Johnny (Willis) , Jill (Peet) and Oz (Perry) .

This attractive film made in screwball style displays black comedy, plot twists , laughters , turns , giggles and a little bit of action. Casting is frankly well . Matthew Perry as a mild-mannered and miserable dentist is nice . Amanda Peet is very amusing as a wanna-be hit-woman and fan of the actual murderers . Furthermore, a cool Kevin Pollack with abundant make-up and a sympathetic grandmother with flatulence . Adequate music score by John Debney and colorful cinematography by Dennis Weaver , no confusion with TV actor , recently deceased. The motion picture wes well directed by Howard Deutch . He's a sequels expert ,he has made three in which he didn't shoot the original (The odd couple , Grumpiers old men and this one) and comedy specialist (Pretty in pink , Great outdoors and My best friend's girl). This farcical comedy with similar ingredients to original will appeal to Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry fans. Rating : Acceptable, passable but inferior to original entry.

I found The Whole Nine Yards to be a surprisingly fun film, which worked thanks to its engaging plot and interesting characters. One thing I didn't think the film needed was a sequel; but I decided to sit down and watch it anyway, and to my surprise; it's a lot better than I thought it would have been. I can certainly understand why it hasn't received glowing praise; as many of the jokes are recycled and the whole film does feel like an excuse to give the likes of Mathew Perry something to do. That being said, original script writer Mitchell Kapner has managed to put together a film that makes good use of its absurd plot and characters, and somehow manages to be enjoyable despite feeling completely superfluous. The plot this time starts when Oz's wife Cynthia is kidnapped by a Hungarian mob boss. Oz decides to contact Jimmy the Tulip; Cynthia's ex-husband and hit man to help get his wife back from the mob. Along with Jimmy's wife and aspiring assassin, Jill, the trio attempt to thwart the mob boss, and help Oz get Cynthia back.

Just like the first film, this one relies on the talents of its lead stars to pull it through. Matthew Perry's wisecracks are mostly amusing, and he is in his element the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time. Amanda Peet is still naive, and sexy, as the aspiring assassin; while Bruce Willis sleepwalks in a role that is a spoof of what he's used to doing. Kevin Pollack chews the scenery with his silly accent, but provides some laughs; and just like the first film, Natasha Henstridge is the spare wheel. The plot isn't very well done, as it mostly features the lead stars hanging around and waiting for someone to shoot at them; so it can become a bit boring. However, the film is never far away from a one-liner or comedic set piece to keep it moving and there are a number of big laughs. Sequels like this often don't work; Ocean's Twelve being the case in point, but I'm pleased to say that The Whole Ten Yards isn't a complete waste of time as it delivers what you would expect of it. It's not particularly deep or clever, but the film offers a fun time and the ending is rather well done.

As a sequel to The Whole Nine Yards, this film was a disappointment. Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry reunite as the retired Mafia Hit-man and the nervy dentist, as does Amanda Peet as the aspiring hit woman. The thing is this time around the acting wasn't that great. Willis is usually good with comic timing but it isn't there here, while Peet looks bored. Only Perry really stands out, his slapstick schtick makes me want to watch an episode of Friends pretty much.

The film is stylishly shot, and has a good soundtrack, and there is evidence of some solid pacing. However, the plot is very contrived, the direction haphazard and the script weak. So overall, this film was a disappointment, it wasn't completely awful but I would be lying if I said it was great. 4/10 Bethany Cox