User reviews

Even though I have seen a few of Sion Sono's films this was a little bit unexpected. Firstly the film starts off as a bit of an awkward romance, a typical out of place pair in an ordinary situation, picked upon by the people around them.

However, as the movie progresses, the movie takes some very interesting and cute turns into a semi surreal and touching fantasy. In some ways, this movie is two separate stories twisted into one, - one starring the legendary Toshiyuki Nishida (known in the West largely from his role as Pigsy in "Monkey") and the other, the central figure Ryo, played by Hiroki Hasegawa.

While not perfect, the movie is touching and emotional, hard to pull off considering some of the surreal circumstance. It has its funny moments, but largely a surreal light drama, and has a touch of the Christmas movie about it. For Sion Sono fans and fans of the fantastic, its worth it for the ending.

...although these two movies aren't similar genre-wise , but taking a look at the two protagonists and their life, the similarities become more evident. In this movie the outcast can get a grip of himself through the help of whatever you call it: his imaginary mentors, his source of inspiration or just his own will to do something brave, but as a result he becomes arrogant and narcissistic... like Arthur in 'Joker'. But the sole difference between the two being that 'Ryoichi' (this movie's protagonist) doesn't become violent.

And I also want to point out that Sono's movies tend to be shot with much less care for detail and and are more rushed (partly caused by the small budget of his films) than high budget hollywood movies, that's why people might see that quality-wise this movie isn't on par with 'Joker', which I get, but still the message of both movies are very alike, which is what Sono seems to focus on it seems.

Sion Sono, the famous director from Japan, he is so versatile, he do all kind of movie, from weird to mainstream, all kind of genre explored. I never read this movie's plot, I just watch this because of his name, Sono-san. So, this movie is an original created by him, mixed all of genre from rags to richest, kaiju, fantasy, santa, a bit of romance in this what can I say a really interesting movie. Its weird but in a cute way. Its so funny to watch with all the awkward japanese moment. Only in japan.