Directed by:
Brad SilberlingScreenplay:
Brad SilberlingComposer:
Antonio PintoCast:
Morgan Freeman, Paz Vega, Jonah Hill, Bobby Cannavale, Leonardo Nam, Jim Parsons, Danny DeVito, Anne Dudek, Kumar Pallana, Allison Dunbar, Silvia Curiel (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
In the tradition of The Office and Reno 911!, the half-hour cable sitcom 10 Items or Less was largely ad-libbed and improvised by its unknown but talented cast. John Lehr doubled as co-creator and series star, playing Leslie Pool, son of the founder of Green & Grains, a medium-sized grocery store somewhere in Ohio. A lifelong failure and foul-up, Leslie was determined to succeed in his efforts to keep his late dad's store afloat after inheriting the place, despite the formidable competition of the neighboring "big box" operation Super Value Mart -- which was managed by Amy Anderson (Jennifer Elise Cox), who happened to be the girl who'd broken Leslie's heart back in high school. Not surprisingly, Leslie's staff was comprised of eccentrics and social misfits, all of whom wished that they were somewhere else or someone else. Carl (Bob Clendenin) was the goofy stock boy who'd appointed himself Leslie's second in command; Yolanda (Roberta Valderrama) worked in the produce department, and at the beginning of the series was also poised to "produce" Carl's baby within a few months; Buck (Greg Davis Jr.) was the grocery bagger, with both eyes on bigger things in life and both feet firmly entrenched in minimum-wage employment; Ingrid (Kirsten Gronfield), the customer-service person, had a lot of trouble dealing with the realities of life, preferring the camaraderie of her fellow Renaissance Faire aficionados; Richard (Christopher Liam Moore), the erudite cashier, aspired to be an ice dancer; and Todd (Chris Payne Gilbert), the hunky butcher, dreamed of racing on the stock-car circuit. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (3)
A more intimate and independent version of Lost in Translation. But no worse. Morgan Freeman clearly enjoys his role immensely, Paz Vega is as talented as she is beautiful, and the short running time makes the whole thing move along nicely. For some, however, the upbeat mood may be too much.
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I approached the 10 Items or Less with caution, as A Series of Unfortunate Events from the same director didn't work for me. However, I was pleasantly surprised, as it is a likable indie film or at least an independent-looking film. It is a movie about a rather ordinary supermarket somewhere in the suburbs and a tired cashier who, by a twist of fate, meets a retiring actor who used to be a sought-after star in his field. This chance encounter turns into a day-long trip filled with conversations about life dreams, goals, and values. Both of them part ways enriched by a positive experience. In its minimalism, it is inventive and tasteful. Overall impression: 80%.
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This film was just your typical, everyday story about two people meeting, not pretending to be something grander than a simple conversation. The creators let it unfold without diving into any romantic clichés or melodrama that's almost as essential in American movies as ketchup is for fries. So, I settled in and let the dialogue flow, appreciating that I didn't need a deep knowledge of philosophy to enjoy it. I liked the unpretentious tale of two vastly different people. Surprisingly, it worked for me because of its relaxed and human touch. You can also view this movie as a clash between real life and Morgan Freeman, with the latter easily winning on points, if not by knockout. / Lesson learned: Careful! Washing some vehicles might lead to a loss of their structural integrity.
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