Every once in a while, you stumble upon a movie that features a bunch of actors whom you recognize, yet never realize worked together. Great examples of this include Wonder Boys (Robert Downey Jr., Frances McDormand, Tobey Maguire), Finder’s Fee (James Earl Jones, Matthew Lillard, Ryan Reynolds), Save the Date (Lizzy Caplan, Alison Brie, Martin Starr), 10,000 Saints (Ethan Hawke, Hailee Steinfeld, Asa Butterfield), About Alex (Aubrey Plaza, Jane Levy, Max Greenfield), and The Dead Girl (Brittany Murphy, Rose Byrne, Toni Collette).

They might not all be among the best movies any of the actors ever starred in, yet they’re all still fun to find because of how many known names appear in them. This is especially true when it’s a film that was released before the actors involved had their big breaks or became major stars. Some of them might have been known names, yet others were still looking for that breakout moment or performance.

That’s the case with 10 Years, a romantic comedy from 2011 (though it got a wider, yet still limited, release in 2012), which features one of the best casts you’ll ever find in the genre. It has a star-studded cast list, a premise that makes for an intriguing story, and a very good soundtrack, yet not many people have heard of it.

What 10 Years Is About

10 Years is an appropriately titled film, as the story centers on a group of people who gather together for their 10-year high school reunion. Although these characters all went to the same school, none of them are the same and each unique personality brings something different to the table. The main storyline to follow involves Jake arriving with his girlfriend Jess, but hoping to reconnect with his high school love as friends. It’s a heartfelt main plot point to focus on throughout the film.

Of course, this is a movie with a massive, sprawling list of characters, so here are other key storylines. One sees a former student who became a famous musician as he reveals that one of his best songs was written about a girl he liked in high school. Another sees the former prom queen look to relive her glory days, only to reveal that her adult life at home isn’t at all glamorous. Others involve secrets getting revealed, characters stepping away to smoke, and even an unexpected hip-hop performance.

The Cast Of 10 Years Is Absurdly Good

While the premise of 10 Years is solid, it’s not what will likely grab audiences or subscribers of a streaming service. They’ll be hooked by the incredible cast in this small indie project. For starters, the main couple at the center, Jake and Jess, are played by Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. The two were actually together in real life at the time of filming, so their chemistry was evident in every scene they shared. Jake’s high school sweetheart, whom he wants to reconnect with, is portrayed by Rosario Dawson, another well-known actor.

Marty and AJ, two best friends who weren’t exactly popular in high school, are played by Justin Long and Max Minghella. Meanwhile, the most popular girl in school whose life has changed dramatically is played by Lynn Collins of True Blood fame. The former student who went on to become a star in the music industry, Reeves, is Oscar Isaac, one of the best actors in all of Hollywood today. He even gets to perform an original song in a scene that stands out.

There’s also Kate Mara as the reclusive Elise, who spends a lot of time with Reeves in the film. Jake and Jess arrive at the reunion with Jake’s friends Cully and Sam, who are played by Chris Pratt and Ari Graynor. Pratt was still several years away from becoming a big movie star with Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World. There’s also Garrity, another friend played by Brian Geraghty, and his wife Olivia, who is played by another future star in Aubrey Plaza.

Even with all those notable actors, there are still several more in 10 Years. Garrity’s best friend is Andre, who is portrayed by Anthony Mackie, also several years away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe role that changed the course of his career. Aaron Yoo, Ron Livingston, and Scott Porter, of Friday Night Lights fame, are also part of this cast. It’s difficult to find a big-budget blockbuster movie that can match 10 Years in terms of star power, even if most of this cast appeared here before becoming household names.

10 Years Was A Solid Critical Hit

The small budget of this indie movie is the biggest reason why so many people are unaware that 10 Years even exists. However, the film also didn’t end up as some kind of critical darling that blew reviewers away. That said, it isn’t like 10 Years received poor reception from critics. It currently only has 55 reviews from certified critics on Rotten Tomatoes and it sits at a 58% rating. While that’s a relatively mixed response, it is far from negative reviews.

The main consensus about the film is that some of the plot points and character arcs are somewhat predictable. You kind of know where several major storylines are going and that can take away from the experience for some audience members. However, the film was also praised for how well it was cast and for the performances by those talented actors. Even if the plot points aren’t all that original, the execution of those stories works well enough because they’re elevated by the cast.

10 Years is likely not a movie that’s going to blow away anyone who finds it on a streaming service (it’s currently available on Amazon Prime Video), but it’s the kind of thing that’s easy for anyone to watch, especially if they’re a fan of romantic comedies. There are also so many great actors that you’re likely to find someone in the cast who you’re a fan of, which also makes it worth checking out. 10 Years is a legitimate hidden gem.

Release Date

September 14, 2012

Runtime

100 minutes

Director

Jamie Linden