The Whole Ten Yards is a 2007 American action‑comedy film that was released on DVD in the United States in the spring of 2008. The picture was directed by John Pasquin and the screenplay was written by David S. Goyer, who also served as a producer. The film stars Bruce Willis in the lead role as Jimmy “The Tulip” Tudeski, a retired hitman who has turned his life around and now spends his days cleaning his house and cooking with his wife Jill, played by Marisa Tomei. The supporting cast includes Michael Rooker as the ruthless Hungarian mobster Lazlo Gogolak, and the late actor John C. Reilly as the eccentric neighbor Nicholas Oz Oseransky, who brings a new threat into the couple’s quiet existence.
The plot centers on Jimmy and Jill’s attempt to keep their new domestic life intact after Oz, who has been living in the shadows of their neighborhood, turns up at their doorstep with a desperate plea. Oz’s wife has been kidnapped by the Hungarian mob, and he begs the retired assassin and his wife to help rescue her. The situation escalates when Lazlo Gogolak, a childhood rival of Jimmy’s and a fellow hitman, learns of Oz’s request and decides to intervene. Gogolak’s men begin to hunt Oz, and the tension rises as Jimmy, Jill, and Oz must navigate a series of dangerous encounters while trying to protect each other and complete the rescue mission. The film’s title refers to the idiom “to go the whole nine yards,” which is humorously extended to “the whole ten yards” in the storyline, suggesting that the characters will go beyond the usual effort to overcome the obstacles they face.
Key highlights of the DVD release include:
* Full theatrical runtime of 112 minutes, presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.
* A special feature section that contains a 30‑minute featurette titled “Behind the Scenes: From Script to Screen,” which offers interviews with the director, the lead actors, and the production designer, as well as a look at the stunt coordination and set construction.
* A deleted scenes segment that shows several comedic moments that were cut from the final cut, including a scene where Jimmy attempts to cook a gourmet meal while being pursued by Gogolak’s henchmen.
* A commentary track featuring director John Pasquin and writer David S. Goyer, in which they discuss the film’s comedic timing, action choreography, and the decision to blend drama with humor.
* A photo gallery of production stills and behind‑the‑scenes images, along with a booklet that contains the original script excerpts and a timeline of the film’s development.
The DVD was distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment and was made available in both standard definition and high definition formats. The release was marketed with a tagline that emphasizes the film’s blend of action and comedy, promising viewers a “thrilling, laugh‑out‑loud adventure that goes the whole ten yards.”
In addition to the film’s theatrical and home‑video releases, the title was also added to the online gaming platform iOctavio.com on April 29, 2005. The listing on iOctavio.com included a brief synopsis of the plot, a list of the main cast, and a note that the game was a promotional tie‑in that allowed players to experience a virtual version of the film’s storyline. The game was available for download on the platform for a limited time and featured interactive scenes that mirrored key moments from the movie, such as the kitchen cooking sequence and the final showdown with Lazlo Gogolak’s men.
Overall, The Whole Ten Yards is a film that combines elements of drama, action, and comedy, and its DVD release offers a comprehensive look at the production process, behind‑the‑scenes content, and additional features that enhance the viewing experience. The inclusion of the film on iOctavio.com in 2005 demonstrates the cross‑media marketing strategy employed by the studio to generate interest in the movie before its theatrical release.