Former TV Friend Matthew Perry scored a minor league success with crime caper The Whole Nine Yards back in 2000, but recent sequel The Whole Ten Yards was "98 minutes of mirth-free entertainment". It's also the latest in a long line of movie misfires for Bruce Willis who reprises his role as hitman Jimmy 'The Tulip' Tudeski, here reborn as a garden variety pansy.
The Pitch
Now more concerned with cleaning up household germs than wiping out underworld scum, former hitman Tudeski reluctantly helps out old pal Nicholas 'Oz' Oseransky (Matthew Perry) when his wife Cynthia (Natasha Henstridge) is kidnapped by the mob. Amanda Peet also returns as Tudeski's wife and trainee contract killer Jill. In a film Variety admitted to its "Sequel Hall Of Shame" it's mostly the jokes that wind up getting killed.
Say What?
Director Howard Deutch and screenwriter George Gallo attempt to explain themselves in an accompanying audio commentary on this DVD, although Gallo evidently has no regrets. "I think this movie is very funny," he insists, "I wrote 80 pages of genius." Apparently the scathing reviews and paltry box office have done little to humble him, as he adds, "It's like a homicidal Three Stooges."
Deutch registers surprise at this, interjecting with, "I wasn't going for The Three Stooges, maybe that's where we, uh, uh..." Come on, say it! "Maybe that's where we came into conflict." D'oh! Although he stops short of confessing a mistake, Deutch is quietly apologetic as he points out all the things he wished he'd changed. "I was always sorry we didn't cut this out, " he says of one scene, "I think the joke is over." You said it, Deutch.
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