Ten Inch Hero

R1 DVD

Web: http://www.teninchherosales.com/

Genre:   Comedy Romance Drama

Runtime:  102 min (unrated version)

Rating:  MA (Sex & Nudity, Mild violence)

Reviewers: Jeremy & Renata Kong

Ten Inch Hero is an independent romance comedy directed by David Mackay and written by Betsy Morris. It stars Jensen Ackles, Sean Patrick Flaner, Clea DuVall, Danneel Harris, Elisabeth Harnoi, John Doe and Alice Krige.

OK, if you judge it by the title you might think that this could be one of those try-hard-to-be-funny American frat movies, but it is not.  Sure, it has its fair share of dick jokes, but the movie is so much more than sandwiches and sex.

The story revolves around the lives of the people who work in a sandwich diner (aka heroes, or subs), in Santa Cruz CA, and it deals mainly with the theme of love and outward appearances.  The delightful main characters are a young woman who has come to town in search of the child she had to give up for adoption years earlier; a Baptist's daughter computer-nerd-virgin who has an on-line romance; and an apparently 'old hippie' who owns the diner and harbours a deep unrequited love.  There is also the punk (Jensen Ackles - now how can you go wrong with him in a movie!?) with the cynical attitude, and the obvious crush on the beautiful girl; and there's the beautiful girl, who is shallow and unashamedly easy. 

It is well acted, the characters are interesting, the dialogue is intelligent and witty, and it has a great soundtrack, too.  The moral of the story comes out very clear and simple - if not a little bit (ok a lot) predictable - but everyone, even the most cynical of people, should be won over by it.

If you loved "Love Actually" you'll definitely love this movie.  It's "Love Actually”’s slightly ruder cousin, where you actually get to see boobs, and a young guys arse!  It's heart warming, laugh out loud funny, and everything comes good in the end. 

So it's not Schindler's List, but not every movie has to be.  It's the best bit of light-hearted entertainment we've seen in a long time.  We totally enjoyed this movie .

PS  Guys... if you want a sure thing movie to win your girl over - THIS is it!!!

This review will appear in Volume 2 No.2 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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