FINE, TOTALLY FINE (ZENZEN DAIJOUBU). Viewed on Streaming. Subtitles/translations = eight (8) stars; set designs/locations = eight (8) stars; cinematography/lighting = seven (7) stars; music = five (5) stars. Director Yosike Fujita's contemporary screwball comedy is light weight (and light heart-ed), but a totally entertaining slice-of-life about a "lost generation" of grownups who, for the most past, defiantly refuse to, well, grow up! (Hey, given today's real world, you really can't blame them!) The Director seems to be asking "is there life after 30--or even before?"! Fujita (who is also credited as the script writer) engages in a fair amount of plot telegraphing, so there are few story surprises. The Director extracts comic bits from all his principal cast members by running the gamut from wry and stony-faced humor to flat out slapstick. Leading actor YosiYosi Arakawa is funny mostly because he just looks funny (but tends to over mug). Dramatic actress Yoshino Kimura provides most of the hilarity in the role of a beautiful but shy, klutzy but talented painter trying to find/keep a suitable day job ("suitable" meaning where employment and her over whelming clumsiness can somehow co-exist). Her character attracts three would-be lovers who do not seem to mind having a spastic girl friend! Subtitles are very good. They can be read no matter the background and manage to convey most of the humor. Cinematography (semi-wide screen, color) becomes jittery here and there. Lighting is fine. Synthesizer music is okay, but a bit repetitious. The story never really "ends" (perhaps a sequel was planned?). It just sort of drifts into the closing credits interspersed with a few out takes (suggesting what might happen next?). Off the wall and highly recommended. WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.
Review of Fine, Totally Fine
