It’s that time of the year when it’s time to put on the retrospective lens and look back on 2010 for what it was, the good and the bad, for better or for worse. To commemorate my first full calendar year of blogging, I decided to write a series I am calling “10 for ’10”, ten top 10 lists celebrating all things 2010. Half will be devoted to the movies, and half will be devoted to the blogging. Obviously, it will culminate on December 31 with my top 10 movies of the year.
To kick off, I’d like to feature a list that’s not your typical year-end top 10 list. Rather than celebrating the best or the worst, this list celebrates mediocrity. There were plenty of movies released this year that were just middling, not earth-shatteringly great yet not horrifically bad. These movies are often left to dry by the end of the year, but it’s time that they get their recognition.
So, without further ado, I present the most forgettable movies of 2010.
Did anything even happen in this movie at all? Thanks to the RunPee app, I missed the big sex scene that was apparently so racy. As for any sort of plot, I’m pretty sure I had forgotten it before I left the theater.
Congratulations, you made a bunch of stuff blow up and freed yourselves from death and imprisonment multiple times. Too bad you didn’t make this movie back in the ’80s, A-Team, because then it would have been exciting. Now, it’s standard. Next…
Who knew that DNA evidence could clear someone wrongly convicted of murder? Try everyone who has looked at the front page of a newspaper in the past two decades. Like every single newspaper headline boasting the triumph of the truth, this movie heads for the back of my mind.
“The Disappearance of Alice Creed”
Not even the movie’s out of nowhere gay lovers twist could save this boring, minimalist kidnapping story from dissolving in my mind almost instantly.
Formulaic romantic comedy. Need I say more?
See above.
I liked this movie a lot better when it was called “The Devil Wears Prada” and had Meryl Streep instead of crotchety old Harrison Ford.
This Will Ferrell/Mark Wahlberg collaboration had nothing to make it stand out in either star’s catalog. Neither has a strong or memorable character spouting any quotable lines. Perhaps it’s best that we can forget this movie because I certainly know Farrell is hoping we forget the movies he made before this. We’ve seen plenty of buddy cop movies done right, and there’s no reason to ever watch it done to mediocrity as it is here.
I have a well-documented distaste for inspirational sports dramas, mainly because they all come down to “this person shouldn’t have won but they worked hard and they were good people so they did win, and we should all learn a lesson.” This horse racing drama diverts a little bit, but it’s so packed with corny lines that I’ll forever group it with those that follow the template.
“Knocked Up” dealt with everything this Jay Baruchel failed star-launching vehicle tried to tackle, only better and with much more humor. I’ll forever consider this a lame rip-off.
Marshall and the Movies 
I’ve got to disagree about The American and Alice Creed
It’s true not a wholelot happened in The American, but to me all that meant was that when the brief moments of action did come, they were all the more shocking and intense. Add to that the beautiful cinematography and terrific performances, and it’s one of the more memorable films I saw this year.
As for Alice Creed, there were definitely one too many twists (personally I liked it better before the connection between the victim and kidnapped #1 was revealed), but I still thought it was an inventive little thriller that made use of its one location very well. Plus I thought the opening sequence, where they prepare the house for the kidnapping, was fantastic.
On the other hand, I totally agree with The A-Team and The Other – both had some good moments, but neither are films I have any interest in watching again.
I haven’t seen the other six films on your list, mostly because they LOOKED totally forgetable based on the trailers.
I’d probably throw in the likes of Robin Hood, Iron Man 2, Red and Alice in Wonderland as additional contenders
Great list. I had already forgotten about nearly all of the titles listed. I can’t agree with you two on “Other Guys.” Michael Keaton back on screen in a casual role was enough to keep that one bouncing around for in this skull for at least a while longer.
Of the ones I’ve seen I really liked The American, and the A-Team was decent for what it was… My stinkers would be Skyline, Somewhere & The Warrior’s Way.
I enjoyed The Other Guys more than you, but I would have added Knight & Day to the list.