You could be a multi-millionaire and still feel worthless next to the girl who rejected you in school.

That’s one of the tragedies of school reunions: No matter how much you’ve changed physically (dropping the puppy fat or piling on the kilos), moved on emotionally (got married/divorced), or matured mentally (become parents) over the years, all it takes is revisiting your school hall to reduce you the insecure, practical joker of an adolescent you once were.

As evidence, just look at the the graduates of Lake Howell High School who left 10 years ago and are coming back together in 10 Years in Central Florida.Members of the star-studded main cast each take an archetype – such as the class nerd, the jock and the popular girls that many of us can relate to.

Channing Tatum plays Jake, who arrives at the reunion with his long-term girlfriend, Jess, (Tatum’s real wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum), both appearing to be deeply in love with one another. As the jock who once ruled the school, this should be the event of the year for him, but then his high school sweetheart, Mary (Rosario Dawson), looking no less desirable after a decade, also shows up with her husband, Paul (Ron Livingston). Awkward!

Being an ensemble production, much like Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve, the story gives almost equal screen time to 6 subplots, essentially wrapped around the familiar themes of love and moving on from the past.

So we get introduced to Jake’s friends including Marty (Justin Long) and AJ (Max Minghella), the life of the party Anna (Lynn Collins), and underground-turned-rock god musician, Reeves (Oscar Isaac).

There’s also Asian nerd Peter Jung (Aaron Yoo), who used to be bullied by Cully (Chris Pratt), who’s now repentant, as well as Scott (Scott Porter) and his Japanese wife Suki (Eiko Nijo). And lastly, Garrity (Brian Geraghty), who had a colourful past that his wife (Aubrey Plaza) is oblivious about. 

Confusing, yes, but it’s definitely one heck of a reunion!

Jamie Linden, who has never directed before, and better known for his writer role in 2010’s Dear John which also starred Tatum, directs this romantic comedy. It can be juxtaposed with other Hollywood movies built on reunion such as American Reunion and Grown Ups. They all contain the side-splitting humour that comedic movies need to have. For example, Cully will entertain you with his drunken antics such as taking off his top and singing karaoke at the stage and hilarious litany of apologies to the nerds and outcasts he bullied by repeating how sorry he is to them until they eventually got irritated. Also, the constant banter between Marty and AJ (Marty dating a plus-sized model and AJ having a boat for the sake of having one) will make you smile. 

Besides providing comic relief, the subplots in the movie offer some heartwarming scenes. For example, the scene where Marty leans forward to Anne and tells her how she’s “absolutely glowing” with her tear-stained face, or when Jake and Mary finally have the dance that they never did during prom.

The cast seems at ease with each other and there is a definite chemistry and a sense of camarederie among them during the mingling at the reunion. With all the plot going on in the movie, the lovestory of Jake and Mary stands out the most. After 8 years of not keeping in contact, they finally reconciled and gave closure to their past. Jake was finally at peace and was supportive after knowing her pregnancy.

Both the young and old audience will definitely enjoy 10 Years as they can relate to their own high school reunions, and the drama that unfurls over the years even many years after graduation. UrbanWire recommends watching this movie with a couple of friends from your secondary school days, and perhaps have a cuppa after to reminiscence those good ol’ days.

 

Movie name: 10 Years
Rating: 3.5/5
Release Date: Jan 17
Duration: 110 mins
Language: English
Age rating: PG13
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Director: Jamie Linden
Cast: Channing Tatum, Jenan Dewan-Tatum, Justin Long, Max Minghella