This Movie is Rated R – For Language
Morgan Freeman plays an actor that has not worked in four years. He is contemplating playing a grocery store manager in an indie film. In order to do some research, he is taken to a small Latino market. Just so you know Morgan’s character isn’t given a name in the movie, he is listed as “Him” in the credits.
At the market, he meets Scarlet (Paz Vega). She is the checker in the 10 items or less lane. She is very feisty and seems to be about the only one that does any work around the store. She doesn’t like it when people try to push the count and will make them take something out of their basket in order to have only ten items (if they don’t, then she will). The customers are very intimidated by her.
While “Him” is at the market, he follows Lee (the manager on duty) around the store to see what he does. He goes so far as to copy everything Lee is doing, even down to the shuffling walk that he does. It is so fun to watch Morgan in the scenes he has with Lee.
“Him” also spends a lot of time observing Scarlet and talking to her. He is both amused and impressed by her. When it is time for her to leave for the day, “Him’s” rides hasn’t shown up yet. She is afraid to leave him there since it’s not a safe neighborhood, so she ends up taking him with her.
Before she can take “Him” to his home she has a job interview to go to. He gets all excited and decides he will help her prepare for it. Which includes a trip to Target, a car wash and Arby’s. The whole bit in Target is just wonderful. Morgan exhibits such a child like enthusiasm in the store and is also absolutely charming with all the women he encounters in the store (thereby, reducing them to giggling schoolgirls).
This is such a sweet movie. We find two people that seem so different from each other, but it turns out they actually have a lot in common. They both learn things about themselves and their lives are improved due to their encounter. Morgan and Paz are fantastic together. It is a joy to watch their performances.
Some of my favorite quotes:
Scarlet – “Your mama didn’t teach you how to count?”
Him – “So, this is the less desirable lane.”
Scarlet – “This? This is where checkers come to die.”
Scarlet – “Are all actors like you?”
Him – “Sadly, no.”
Him – “Customers, please note the outstanding work being done by our employee in the 10 items or less lane. And you’ll find there’s no waiting in aisle number one, where our full service checker is currently sitting on her a$$.”"
Scarlet – “You don’t know your number? What are you, 12?”
Him – “Let me tell you something. I may not know my phone number. I might not even know what f*cking day it is, but I know people.”
Him – “This is amazing.”
Scarlet – “It’s Target.”
Him – “Fantastic.”
Him – “Look at these prices. How can they afford to do this? I have to tell the office about this place.”
Scarlet – “Hmm. It’s a well-kept secret.”
Him – “This is what it’s all about. This is the fun sh*t.”
Jan
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I can’t say enough about how much I love Morgan’s performance in this movie. Throughout the movie he observes and talks to just everyone he comes in contact with. He is so engaging that you really believe those things could actually happen. Such as when he decides to help the car wash employees and ends up with them all following him and dancing around the cars as they dry them. Or in Target when he is complementing the women on their clothing choices and also giving them advice on what would be good on them.
The ending is so touching. They both know that even though their day together meant so much to them, they will never see each other again. They will go forward with their lives knowing they will be forever changed because of their meeting, but they are also realistic about the fact that they live in very different worlds.
Tags: dvd, morgan freeman, movie, paz vega, review
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