April Fools

Exaggeration has become pretty common in run-of-the-mill Japanese movies of late. Of course there remain Japanese auteurs who strive to give us something like real life, while keeping things interesting; Hirokazu Koreeda may be the best known of these. But they are a minority. I wonder if this isn't due in part to the pervasive influence of manga.

Even so, April Fools is, ...wow. Over the top, exaggerated, absurd, pretty much from start to finish. I don't think there was any two- minute segment in the entire movie that could be defended as "realistic".

There is also a lot of soppy sentimentalism to deal with, especially towards the end. Numerous scenes that go on way too long. Numerous twists that are highly predictable.

This is one that I would given a pass to. If you're looking for a Japanese comedy, there are better choices; one recent example is The Woodsman and the Rain featuring Kouji Yakusho.

April Fools is not absolutely awful...there are only a few bright spots, largely having to do with the female lead, Erika Toda. But they don't make this two-hour film worth your time.