The curiously titled independent film "Ten Inch Hero" by director David MacKay and screenwriter Betsy Morris follows a young woman (Elisabeth Harnois) into a quirky sandwich shop upon relocating to small-town California. The shop caters to and employs the abnormal, as is specified early on. The ensemble film that ensues involves the young artist Harnois portrays, an attractive nymphomaniac, a tattooed bad boy cook, the quiet "homely" girl, and the hippy boss with a fascination with a weird Wiccan woman.
The cast of characters feels a lot like the roster from John Hughes' "Breakfast Club" (brain, beauty, basket case, etc.) and the setting recalls the likes of James Mangold's "Heavy". The movie is not quite as derivative as this might presume, but where it fails is not in it's resemblance to other films. The main problem that hexes the piece is the inconsistence of tone as it crosscuts between the multiple story lines that open it up beyond the sandwich shop. There are comedic moments sporadically placed within out-of-place overly dramatic plot points. Although this is a competently made, if too-tidy, film it feels like its either not completely true to its romantic comedy vision or it's dramatic one.
The cast of characters feels a lot like the roster from John Hughes' "Breakfast Club" (brain, beauty, basket case, etc.) and the setting recalls the likes of James Mangold's "Heavy". The movie is not quite as derivative as this might presume, but where it fails is not in it's resemblance to other films. The main problem that hexes the piece is the inconsistence of tone as it crosscuts between the multiple story lines that open it up beyond the sandwich shop. There are comedic moments sporadically placed within out-of-place overly dramatic plot points. Although this is a competently made, if too-tidy, film it feels like its either not completely true to its romantic comedy vision or it's dramatic one.