I don’t think I would actually want to live in Japan, if only because it seems to be a rather more overtly misogynistic society than the relatively respectful Canada I know and love (emphasis on word overt), plus you know, the whole I don’t speak Japanese thing, but damn it sure would be a cool place to visit. I say this based on all the awesome movies that come out of that country. No where else on Earth seems so wildly bizarre, and so unselfconscious, unpretentious and unapologetic about it. Weird shit going down in Japanese movies is always played as being totally standard and they get away with a level of randomness no other country can match. Could a North American superhero flic suddenly pan to a dinosaur stomping on a bridge without it seeming like it was trying too hard?

Yatterman is an adaptation of a 70s TV anime but I’ve never seen the original so I can’t say how it compares, though I’ll assume its spot on because this film is entirely a live-action cartoon. It employs cartoon logic, pacing and ridiculous over the topness with the help of CGI robots and skull shaped explosions, as well as a generous portion of WHAT THE FRICKETY FRAKK?!

I don’t know if I can recommend Yatterman because just as sushi is an acquired taste, so is crazy. Imagine the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and amp up the WTF factor by about a gazillion percent. Also amp up the innuendo and deliberate humour. I laughed my ass off and literally, audibly said “what?!” so many times during this showing that I lost track of all the randomness. I’m not even going to bother outlining the plot because it really doesn’t matter. If you enjoy laughing both with and at weird ass shit, then this is the movie for you, but I suspect it wouldn’t have been quite as amusing without the Fantasia crowd clapping along with the song and dance numbers.

3 niqueheads [rating:30]