The most common complaint people have with Netflix is the limited amount of films available to stream instantly. Though it’s advertised as “unlimited” movies on Netflix, it’s true just about anything you’re in the mood to watch isn’t available to instantly stream.
The other day I wanted to watch “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Not available. Neither was “Detroit Rock City.” There’s really no rhyme or reason to what is available to watch on Netflix other than you can’t watch what you really want to, unless you want to wait 2-3 business days for the arrival of the DVD.
So naturally, I was surprised when “The Ten” was available to instantly watch. You’ve probably never heard of it. It’s directed by David Wain, the same guy who wrote and directed “Wet Hot American Summer.” You’ve probably never heard of that either. “Role Models”? I’m sure you’ve heard of that one.
Wain’s style of humor is indescribable at best. Dumb, yet smart at the same time. Obnoxious and unrealistic, but he makes it work. It’s something a lot of viewers don’t really appreciate unless they’re open-minded to borderline offensive, raunchy comedy. Both “The Ten” and “Wet Hot American Summer” received 30-something percents on Rotten Tomatoes. But I like them, so naturally, you should listen to me instead of the established film critics on the website.
“The Ten” is a collection of skits, all about 15 minutes each, based on the Ten Commandments. When I say based, I mean very, very loosely based. It’s narrated by Paul Rudd, standing in front of two giant tablets, who is breaking the commandment “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery” by sleeping with Jessica Alba while married to Famke Janssen.
The all-star cast also includes Winona Ryder, Adam Brody, Oliver Platt, Janeane
Garofalo, Jon Hamm, Jason Sudeikis, Michael Ian Black and more.
That’s pretty much the only bit that has a traditional take on a Commandment. For instance, in “Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Goods,” a police detective (Liev Schreiber) gets jealous when his neighbor (Joe Lo Truglio) gets a CT scan machine.
He then feels the need to get a CT scan machine. Not to be outdone, his neighbor gets another one, and then the detective gets another one, and so on and so forth until there isn’t even enough room in their houses for all of those CT scan machines.
The two finally become friends and bond over beers and “Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About” by Bonnie Rait at a local bar, as dozens of neighborhood children are
exposed to radiation at a power plant and need access to their CT scan machines.
“Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Wife” takes place in a prison, so you can make
your own conclusion as to what that one is about.
“The Ten” is an outrageous and hilarious take on something familiar to all of us. While it’s not for the easily offended, even some Christians can get a laugh out of the blasphemy portrayed. If you end up liking it, “Wet Hot American Summer” is available to instantly stream, too.
