Today’s quick review: The Whole Ten Yards. Mild-mannered dentist Oz Oseransky (Matthew Perry) has another brush with the world of crime when a vengeful Lazlo Gogolak (Kevin Pollak), freshly released from prison, kidnaps Oz’s wife Cynthia (Natasha Henstridge). Oz flees to Mexico to ask for the help of his friend Jimmy “the Tulip” Tudeski (Bruce Willis), a retired hitman now living a quiet, domestic life with his wife Jill (Amanda Peet).
The Whole Ten Yards is a crime comedy that reunites two couples with a tangled criminal history. The Whole Ten Yards picks up several years after The Whole Ten Yards, with the release of mob boss Lazlo Gogolak from prison. The movie has some of the same charm as The Whole Nine Yards, but it lacks the original’s intricate plot and delicate comedic touch. The result is a decent comedy with a good cast but not much vision.
The Whole Ten Yards shifts to a more overt style of comedy that comes at the expense of its characters. Where the first film was careful to keep a dry edge on its humor, the sequel opts for cheaper jokes and more exaggerated characters. Oz and Jimmy shift into caricatures of their former selves, while newcomer Lazlo is a quirky, over-the-top version of his son Janni from the first film. The plot also has less of a clear direction than the first one.
Still, the cast and the character dynamics partially make up for some of the film’s missteps. Neither the story nor the humor is quite as sharp as in the original, but Oz and Jerry make a fun duo, the supporting cast adds nicely to the chaos, and the film’s many absurd situations earn some laughs. The Whole Ten Yards lacks the nuance it needs, but it still has something to offer as a comedy, thanks primarily to a good cast in interesting roles.
Watch The Whole Ten Yards when you’re in the mood for a light comedy with vivid characters that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The story won’t make much sense to those who haven’t seen the original, but those who have may want to give the sequel a shot. Steer clear if you’re looking for a comedic masterpiece. For a more robust take on the same characters, try The Whole Nine Yards. For a crime spoof, try Johnny Dangerously or Mafia!.
5.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 6.5 for a credible but noticeably flawed attempt at recapturing the spark of the original.