With Freeman, Vega 'Less' is more

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Big stars often like to play in the indie sandbox, but what counts as an independent film in Hollywood isn't always something small. An ensemble film -- such as the current "Bobby," for example -- might get lots of attention for its well-known cast even if those actors worked for next to nothing.

Morgan Freeman's turn in "10 Items or Less," on the other hand, is actually a bold move.

Without a shocking plot (1995's "Seven"), a beloved director (Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby," 2004) or Ashley Judd (2002's "High Crimes" and 1997's "Kiss the Girls"), Mr. Freeman must carry this small character piece almost by himself. His only help comes from an almost unknown actress.

Luckily, both of them can act.

"10 Items" was written and directed by Brad Silberling, himself going small after the high-profile "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2004). Big-time actor and experienced director alike have plenty of fun lightly skewering their own business.

Mr. Freeman's character (we never discover his name) is a big movie star, not unlike, well, Morgan Freeman. The difference is that the movie Morgan hasn't made a film in four years. He's considering a role in an indie film -- a running joke is his repeated insistence that "it's nothing I've committed to yet" -- as a supermarket manager. So for research, he pokes into a Latino market south of Los Angeles, hoping to watch the manager at work.

What he gets instead is Scarlet (Paz Vega from "Spanglish"). He's immediately drawn to this take-no-prisoners clerk, who runs the "10 Items or Less" express line with an iron fist. Mr. Freeman soon abandons his plan to tail the manager, but he can't get home.

He forgot his cell phone, he can't remember his own home number, and a Diners Club card won't get him a cab. So he tags along with Scarlet as she prepares for the job interview that might change her life.

A movie like this relies almost entirely on the chemistry between its leads, and neither the old hand nor the newbie disappoints. Playing a knowing movie star is a cakewalk for Mr. Freeman; his characters always seem wiser than everyone else. The surprise here is Miss Vega. Watching the Spanish actress in her first Hollywood lead role is a real pleasure. Her ease on the screen makes for some delightful repartee between these two people from different worlds. Soundtrack songs such as Kemo the Blaxican's "La Receta" nicely tie the worlds of black and Hispanic together.

"10 Items" is just 82 minutes long, but it still manages to stall now and then. A scene in which Miss Vega teaches Mr. Freeman a Spanish song only serves to pass the time during a drive. Such dull moments are rare, though.

A scene in which the clerk introduces the movie star to discount retailer Target is priceless and allows Mr. Freeman to show off his ability to make anyone smile. Also, we can't help but laugh when Mr. Freeman keeps finding one of his old films marked down. Not too many actors would be willing to poke fun at their own careers.

"The minute I see somebody, I know how to cast them," Mr. Freeman says in the film. Somebody certainly knew how to cast this film. The talents of Mr. Freeman and Miss Vega make a slight character piece something special.

**1/2

TITLE: "10 Items or Less"

RATING: R for language

CREDITS: Written and directed by Brad Silberling

RUNNING TIME: 82 minutes

MAXIMUM RATING: FOUR STARS.