4/5 Knowing When To End It Is Important
  by B. Merritt (WWW.FILMREVIEWSTEW.COM, Pacific Grove, California United States)
Knowing when to end a movie is just as important as casting, directing and acting. And it's nice to see when a director/script get it right. Clocking in at just 82 minutes, 10 ITEMS OR LESS doesn't stretch the story, trying to grasp at inane topics. It stays focused, being funny, sad, and well thought out.

Morgan Freeman (Lucky Number Slevin) stars as "Him", an aging actor grasping at any roles presented to him. We're introduced to "Him" as he travels to a supermarket in an out-of-the-way section of town by The Kid (Jonah Hill, Click). Realizing he has a star in his car, The Kid pressures Him to talk about his absence in cinema over the past few years. Him isn't very forthcoming because, not only has he been out of it for while, he's also en route to a shooting location of an indie film he might act in ("I haven't decided if I'm going to accept the part."). The Kid is a relative of the director involved in this indie venture and soon drops him in the middle of nowheresville. Stuck, Him decides to check out the local market. He immediately runs into the beautiful Scarlet (Paz Vega, Spanglish) who operates the 10 items or less register. Not just strikingly pretty but intelligent, Him begins using her as his prime research subject for his upcoming independent film role. He learns how she figures out numbers so quickly and why she knows the quirks of every member of this isolated community.

But Him doesn't just use Scarlet, he helps her so he can see deeper into her life. They travel together to get her car back from a cheating husband, and he teaches her how to act to get a new job she's pining for, and how to dress for success even when confronted with Target as the epitome of local clothing. This is probably one of the funniest moments as we get a glimpse of Him, too, showing his complete lack of understanding of the chain-store retail world ("These shirts are only $12 bucks! How is this possible?!")

The ending, as stated at the beginning of this review, is abrupt but apropos. There's no way these two could ever remain friends even though they form a unique bond. They know when to say goodbye and what each garnered from the other. It's a quiet but riveting moment as Scarlet's clunker car sits idling outside Him's L.A. mansion.

This is a great independent production and one that wastes little time getting going. And it won't waste your time either.

3/5 Getting back your life
  by R. Kyle (USA)
He's (Morgan Freeman) not making a commitment, he's just doing research. He's a known actor, who's made a film with Ashley Judd, but hasn't been in a film in four years. The indie film company drops him off in a market where he meets Scarlet.

Scarlet (Vega) is the 10 items or less aisle checker. She's running the market while the manager and his new girlfriend (Scarlet is his ex) are messing around.

When Freeman's ride home doesn't show up, Scarlet takes him home on her way to a job interview. In helping to fix her up, Freeman regains his own confidence.

"10 Items" is an interesting character driven film, which Freeman and Vega can mostly carry. I found myself noting a bit too much product placement in this vehicle, but it's still an endearing tale of two very unalike people who are able to help each other.

5/5 Simply enjoy
  by J. White (Lansing, Michigan United States)
If you want to laugh, think hard, grin and maybe look at life differently, enjoy this film. You can't help but thoroughly be engrossed in it.

4/5 High Scores for Honesty and Simplicity in a Meaningful Dialogue
  by Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States)
10 ITEMS OR LESS was made in two weeks on a shoestring budget by writer/director Brad Silberling, just a little film shot in Carson, CA that feels like the entire story was improvised...in the best sense of the word. Silberling had the good fortune to pair veteran actor Morgan Freeman, in between his big projects, with Spanish actress Paz Vega, and the result is a dialogue between two people from different vantages who manage to enhance the life of the other.

Morgan Freeman plays himself - yet part of the comedy is that he is depicted as an actor who has been out of work for four years, scouting a location for a little 'filler film' to get back into the flow of things. His 'role' is to be that of a market manager and he is dropped off at seedy market in Carson where he encounters, among others, one Scarlet, the girl at the argumentative 10 Items or Less checkout line. Not only is Scarlet tired of her static job, she is also generally angry about her philandering husband (Bobby Cannavale), currently sleeping with Scarlet's lazy co-worker (Anne Dudek), and her lack of ability to get a decent job elsewhere. The two pair after a few shared problems and off they go on a 'road trip' that results in each of the characters growing from the presence and life story of the other.

It is a simple story, simply told, but because of the tender bonding between Freeman and Paz it works very well. This is one of those little films about human relationships where being vulnerable to change and exchange is the message. It is well worth viewing, and this is a DVD that has featurettes that are touching, informative, and comic - a pleasure to view. Grady Harp, April 07

4/5 Hesitated to Watch, but ...
  by Andie G. (Cedar Park, Tx USA)
I became totally engrossed in this film. This is a simple movie with a story line over one day. It is about two people who underestimate their job skills and themselves. They learn a lot from each other about their capabilities.