DVD Reviews

10 – Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Feb 4, 2011, 22:41 GMT

A Hollywood songwriter goes through a mid-life crisis and becomes infatuated with a sexy blonde newlywed. ...more

Blake Edwards is gone, but we’ll always have the movie.  10 is his treatise on middle-age as Dudley Moore can’t stand his 42 years and goes off after new bride Bo Derek.  The film may stand as the one that got more folks getting cornrows and doing it to Ravel’s Bolero. 

Composer George Webber (Dudley Moore) arrives at his lyricist Hugh’s (Robert Webber) house to find that the power is off.  As he’s navigating the darkness by candlelight, the lights spring on and he finds that it’s a surprise party for his 42nd birthday. 

George puts on his brave party face, but he confides to his girlfriend Samantha (Julie Andrews) that he’s not very happy to have gone over 40.  The following day he’s gloomily driving around town when he sees a gorgeous bride on her way to her wedding.  He gives chase and eventually crashes into a police car, but makes his way to her wedding where he’s stung by a bee. 

That evening, he and Samantha fight over the pornographer neighbor’s (Don Calfa) live sex acts with “broads” that George observes through his telescope.  Samantha isn’t enamored with the use of that term either and storms off in a huff.  George tries to get back with Samantha but keeps missing connecting to her.

He gets even more obsessed with the beautiful bride and finds out that her name is Jennifer (Bo Derek), her husband is David (Sam J. Jones), and that they’re in Mexico on their honeymoon.  He only had to get six cavities filled from her dentist father to get that info, along with the pain and tranquilizers. 

The cavities along with some alcohol has George end up at the naughty neighbors, but also caught through the telescope when Samantha shows up at his house when she’s concerned about him.  It’s the last straw for her and the boozy George buys a plane ticket to Mexico in hopes of bedding his perfect “10.” 

As time has gone on in the field of sex comedies, 10 has probably turned into and 8 or 8.5.  We’re far raunchier to my memory, just look at the antics in Get Him to the Greek.  It makes 10 seem quaint by comparison. 

The laughs are more of a gentle variety as compared to the rapid fire stream of jokes (some hit, some miss) that we get in today’s comedies.  However, with the experienced hand of the late Blake Edwards at the tiller and a game cast, 10 still scores. 

Dudley Moore was perhaps lesser known on this side of the pond but 10 and Arthur would make him a household name.  Bo Derek would also rise to fame from the box office hit. 

Her appearance would become a cultural standard and parodies were popping up everywhere.  I’d bet that even today when Bolero is played that many think of her running down the beach. 

10 is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.35:1).  Special features are in standard definition and spares.  You get a 4 minute vintage featurette and the 3 minute theatrical trailer. 

This is a bit of a letdown considering Edwards just recently passed.  There are still cast members amongst the living and it might have been nice to hear of their experiences with Edwards or Moore. 

10 is still a charming film, but today’s audiences may be used to rawer fare.  Dudley is still funny, Bo is still pretty hot, Julie is charming as always, and Blake is still on his game. 

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