MovieChat Forums > The Ten (2008) Discussion > Subtle jokes.

Subtle jokes.

posted 17 years ago by toaduser
24 replies | jump to latest

Part of the reason I've seen this movie so many times is picking up on all the tiny little jokes you might've missed or overlooked. Things like the one-legged Mexican rickshaw driver's new wooden leg being attacked by a group of children with axes, saved, and then not having it used.

Jason Sudeikis's compulsive kneeling, pictures of Justin Theroux as Jesus, Rob Corddry trying to make a dramatic exit from the prison after being turned down by Ken Marino...

Oh, and read the cast credits on imdb. Someone went through the effort of naming every minor character in the movie (plus Robert Ben Garant as himself).

[–] samantha19772003 16 years ago

I loved when Rob Corddry was trying to just walk out the door....that was effen funny, caught that one the first time, I am gonna have to watch it again though....

I hate to say this, but this place is getting to me. I think I'm getting the fear.

[–] selacious9 16 years ago

The transitions from the tablets to the stories was brilliant. Especially as they got further along, like 'Aaayy' and 'The'
But 'Not' is the best one

[–] samantha19772003 16 years ago

totally, i caught that too! that was great :)

I hate to say this, but this place is getting to me. I think I'm getting the fear.

[–] mcfinn76 16 years ago

And pay attn to the vhs tapes

I bet you'll vote next time, hippy!
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=18765508

[–] samantha19772003 16 years ago

yeah, i am soooo gonna watch it again now....lol

I hate to say this, but this place is getting to me. I think I'm getting the fear.

[–] toobitterforyou 16 years ago

haha, the vhs tapes.
what is up with their obsession with harrison ford???
i know i saw witness, working girl and the mosquito coast.
anybody see any more?

and i don't know if it's really a subtle joke or just a subtle piece of dialogue, but my absolute favorite dialogue exchange.

Ray: Son of a bitch. Paul went and bought himself a CAT scan machine.

Sally: A CAT scan machine? Like a hospital CAT scan machine? Why would he do that? That seems ridiculous.

Ray: Probably wants to be a hero.

That delivery of that last line is so priceless.
I have such a newfound respect for Liev Schreiber's comedic genius after this segment.

[–] XanderBluth 16 years ago

"Probably wants to be a hero." was great. That coupled with "I'm sorry son. You know Daddy loves you. (sings): Daddy loves, his little boy." after punching his son. And the chop to the wife with "I'm sorry honey, I didn't see you there." Damn, that Schreiber's got some comic chops.

[–] ThePhoenixHope 16 years ago

Yes! I about fell off the sofa.

Dear Mary, you who gave birth without sin, teach me how to sin and not give birth.

[–] bbonacci-1 16 years ago

PLEASE Explain to me what is funny about that.
Funny enough for you to type out the whole exchange.
I feel like I am missing something.

[–] CommieTT 12 years ago

How does one explain funny? Generally, if you have to have a joke explained to you the best you get is, "oh, okay."

Be that as it may, it's a great piece of comedy for several reasons:
1. Liev Schreiber's is overly dramatic, like a character in a film noir pot-boiler.
2. His wife responds the way most people would, with complete confusion about buying a CAT scan for the home.
3. Schreiber's reply, "probably wants to be a hero" is totally in character with how he first started out, but the line is absolutely absurd. As is the situation.

Pure genius.

[–] drtoni70 16 years ago

There were so many great little lines...one of my favorites in the first comandment sketch was

"God I love that smell...what is that coffee breath?"

[–] snazzyjer 16 years ago

Love the "Aaay!" transition...

And the tapes are just for the joke itself, no Harrison Ford obsession or anything.

I like:

"I was just in the neighborhood...thought I'd come by and take a *beep*

"A pony can be delightful"

"Most of the jobs out there are being offered to actors who can get off the floor without dying."

The way the judge spits out: "Oh, is that how the judicial system works!?"

I adore Winona Ryder for abruptly turning on Louis LaFonda when the ventriloquist starts, then when she's at the dressing room, she's snapping at him, like "I will smack you in the FACE...!" That really gets me...

For some reason this always cracks me up:
"I'm Todd Jaffe..."
"And I'm Greg Jaffe. And we are..."
Both-- "The Jaffe Brothers! Good night everyone!"
Then a bunch of kids run in and they suddenly have this huge family moment...

Anything Mather Zickel does in this is great. I love the "Is that coffee breath" line. And: "I used to like him. And now I hate him."

The writing has a way of being so obvious about the storytelling through lines like that that it transcends the obvious and becomes sublimely funny (to me, anyway). A great example is at the beginning of the Winona/Dummy segment, where her and LaFonda each have exactly one line to catch everyone up as to their background, relationship and where they are in the story so we can move forward. Love it.

[–] drtoni70 16 years ago

The "Aaaey" transition kind of anoyed me at first (I assume you mean the hostess at the comedy club from the "thaou shalt not steal skit)

...but if you listen, after she seats Wynona and Zickel you hear her give a big "Aaaey" to the next people she greats. I kind of found that funny.

[–] SkaTaku 16 years ago

indeed. that scene was was HIGHlarious. Plus Rasheeda Jones is hot. She could have been drooling from the mouth for all i care. It still woulda worked

[–] jobee25 16 years ago

nope sorry. the best line in the entire movie is when theyre explaining the backstory of the lying rhino and the hyenas or whatever are infecting themselves with teh STDS and the rhino asks "why didnt they die from the STDS" and all the hobos just laugh at how ridiculous his question is and answer "they were immune to it".
that was priceless and unparalleled.

[–] blu-dude 16 years ago

"VA-HEE-NAH".

Ok, so I'm a simple man, but I keep hearing the Mexican narrator saying that one word.

[–] rebeccatrevisan 16 years ago

AGREED! That bit cracked me up so bad. I laughed hard enough at "It was an awakening of her vagina"...but then when he just kept saying it I totally lost it :D

[–] Xander007 16 years ago

Also, the Mexican man explaining the joke after the whole accounts receivable thing. "No, he's a local carpenter. This time I'm not joking. The context of accounts receivable in a small Mexican village..." whatever he says. love that joke.

I love how Zack Orth is the lawyer and gets fired. "Well I hear they're looking for tour guides at the plant" and sure enough he becomes the tour guide in the CAT scan bit.

Ooh, best one. The kid in the CAT scan bit banging on the glass:
"I have an idea"
"WHAT IS IT"
"It's a reality show about 10 homeless people and the winner gets a penthouse suite"
"That's not bad... Wait! Doesn't your dad own a whole bunch of cat scan machines."

[–] toaduser 16 years ago

Soy el hombre de VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVAGINA.

[–] pmdawn 16 years ago

You know what, it's true. WHile I had fun watching it, it's only in retrospect that I see the brilliance of some of the jokes.

The whole Mexian episode
CAT Scan Machines...
Lying Rhino
FFFlack!
Ahnold impersonator

so many good moments... LOL

[–] ThePhoenixHope 16 years ago

Oh and by the way, your dad is really Arsenio Hall!!

Priceless.

Dear Mary, you who gave birth without sin, teach me how to sin and not give birth.

[–] carmd 15 years ago

I like the Jesus painting on the wall in the scene where the mom is admitting to the Jaffe brothers about her past flings.

[–] dk6025 14 years ago

Anyone notice Jesus riding a segway to the dance?

[–] popzeus78 14 years ago

I love the scene with the naked guy inviting his friend to the next nude sunday, the friends says "And cut to-- ding-dong." And sure enough the scene cuts to the doorbell ringing, "ding-dong".

And Ben Garrant explaining "The Wall" in that same sketch reminded me of the old State skit where they go camping in a stranger's apartment.