Fine, Totally Fine (2008) User Reviews

The weird and wacky world of everyday people.

[sitenoise · 7/10 · 11 August 2010]

This is a subtle, almost surreal comedy that wanders along at a slow pace, punctuated with bits of low-brow humor to keep it alive. It's also an odd little romance and a root-for-the-losers character drama, but there's never any high drama, as the film never gets out of lazy Sunday afternoon mode. The comedy and romance are spices in the mix of everyday people turning thirty, going nowhere fast, who end up going from not so good to not so bad after all. When the humor is subtle or sad it's great, but not so good when it resorts to the juvenile, like when a booger flies across the room and lands in someone's eye. Comedy is tough and everyone has a style that suits them. I could have done without the more broad-based physical bits but they do serve a purpose as little alarms for those who don't appreciate two hours of deadpan, no matter how funny it is. The director demonstrates a good amount of skill in using editing for comic timing, and he was wise to cast YosiYosi Arakawa as the guy to do the heavy lifting when it comes to the "Life's more fun when you're an idiot" bits.

I recommend this film to those who like slow comedies, but also to those who like whatever you call these uplifting films about everyday people who don't become rock stars or win the Olympics but just get along and find happiness in everyday life. I love the way the film ends and anti-resolves a love triangle we weren't sure was going to turn out to be much of a plot point. I wanted to reach through my screen and hug the crap out of Yoshino Kimura. Her performance really surprised me. What a pleasure to see her do comedy, albeit of the low-key and clumsy kind.

And even though her part is very small, any film with Noriko Eguchi gets points just for having her.

zany Japanese comedy, anticlimactic, but with a poignant message

[Survive_Kino · 6/10 · 24 October 2008]

This is a delicate Japanese comedy about how life can be disappointing. It features three main characters approaching 30; none of whom are satisfied with their lives:- A nervous, shy girl with an unusual affection for fish sausages, aspires to be an artist but is too clumsy to hold down a job, a hospital manager who never confronts anybody and commands no respect because he is always trying to be nice out of fear that people won't like him and the most compelling and amusing of all, Teruo, an obtuse, sadistic and dim-witted park keeper. He likes scaring kids and dreams of one day building a super-ultra-haunted-house-deluxe, which will literally scare people to death.

There is a briefly explored sub-plot in which the two men compete for the affections of the girl, but this is never resolved as she finds love with another man. None of their dreams are realised and there are no scenes where emotional hopes are addressed or aspirations achieved.

This is not a fantasy film, but rather a film about fantasy. The charming movie is set predominantly in a second hand book shop belonging to Teruo's father. Despite the lack of a neat, conventional plot resolution, the film is redeemed by a poignant message about the pleasure that can be taken simply by enjoying one another's company.

Quirky, Charming, Funny!

[net_orders · 6/10 · 6 February 2017]

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.

Sort of okay

[politic1983 · 7/10 · 17 October 2020]

"Fine, Totally Fine" ("Zenzen daijobu") is a film I heavily associate with my first trip to Japan in September 2008. Being that I spent about 27% of my three-week trip in the Tower Records and HMV of Shibuya, the VD - seemingly recently released - was all over the quite literal shop(s). Immediately, I recognised the inimitable facial expression of Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, having probably been recently exposed to it in "Kamikaze Girls" and "Memories of Matsuko". I had no idea what the film itself was though.

Forward a couple of months back in the good ol' United London and I saw that same face gurning back at me: "Fine, Totally Fine" released with glorious English subtitles. I now had an idea what the film was.

And what that film is is very simple: Teuro (Arakawa) is a manual worker with ambitions of making horror movies and just generally scaring anyone he meets. Lifelong friend Hisanobu (Yoshinori Okada) is frequently roped into Teuro's amateur works, though somewhat reluctantly, as a break from his day job leading a hospital cleaning team. Approaching thirty, both probably need a spark in their lives.

And that spark comes in the shape of Akari (Yoshino Kimura), a budding artist, yet overly-timid creature baffled by life. Despite her poor interviewing technique, the overly-nice Hisanobu employs her on his cleaning team, though a series of blunders puts an end to her career. To help her out, he points her in the direction of Teuro's father's second-hand bookshop, where her unconventional ways are more at home.

This kick-starts a friendly rivalry between the two for her hand, but ultimately both are going to fail. But "Fine, Totally Fine" is not a film that is particularly heavy on plot, and it doesn't particularly need to be. This is a slow boat trip to nowhere in particular across calm waters with a colourful collection of fellow passengers.

Writer-director Yosuke Fujita's next film was 2011's "Quirky Guys and Girls" which would have been an adequate title for his 2008 debut. With the exception of everyman Hisanobu, the characters are all exaggerations, with their foibles magnified for comic effect, each trying to find their place in the world.

Teuro is beyond a simple horror fanboy, with an endless collection of toys and props made in his likeness. Despite his ambition, he has no real drive behind it and so finds himself where he is; often late for appointments with no real plan. His confidence and belief that his dreams will come true are frequently crushed, but it doesn't stop him. Living in a child-like dreamworld is where he has found his happiness.

Akari is bumbling beyond belief, clumsy and timid, barely opening her mouth and failing to make a positive impression in the world of work. But, like Teuro, she has found comfort in her art, though perhaps is the greater talent. Teuro's father, Eitaro (Keizo Kanie), sits glum and silent in his bookshop all day, clear that he is far from fine. Travel and the ukulele finally get him out of his funk.

If we're to think seriously about it, beyond the comedy there is something of an exploration into mental health here. Despite the calm nature of almost everything about this film, each character is in some way struggling to hold things together: whether it's Teuro frightening children; Akari's reclusive nature; Eitaro's out-and-out depression; or Hisanobu trying too hard to be liked by others, the title is clearly ironic, as hiding personal trauma leads each to become a misfit in the adult world.

The character best holding things together is Yuhara (Naoki Tanaka), a ceramics restorer with a birthmark covering his face. A man you imagine would have experienced ridicule in his life is calm and self-assured in what he does. Taking pride in his work, Fujita's message seems to look to art as a form of expression for those struggling to communicate their feelings. Teuro has his horror movies, Akari her sketches and Eitaro his ukulele.

Mixing in some cultural references that may get lost in translation and some interesting wardrobe decisions, this is an assured debut from Fujita. Balancing the more serious problems with the comedic, much like Akari's beloved chikuwa, "Fine, Totally Fine" is comfort food: a calm and warm feeling that will immediately relax you from your worries. The gentle music, slow pace and humour make this the perfect film to fall asleep to, feeling fine, totally fine...I wish I went to Fuji Safari Park on that first trip.

The latest gem from Japan...

[mattskibashot · 10/10 · 17 July 2008]

FINE, TOTALLY FINE (also known as ZENZEN DAIJOBU) is the debut film from writer and director Fujita Yosuke. After revisiting memorable scenes days after my initial viewing, I've decided that this very well may be one of my favorite live-action films from Japan.

Arakawa YosiYosi, whom you may recognize from small roles in Japanese movies and dramas (MEMORIES OF MATSUKO, "TIGER AND DRAGON"), finally gets a deserving starring role. His character is Teruo, the son of a struggling used bookstore owner. Obsessed with scaring people and collecting horror memorabilia--including monster figurines with his frighteningly accurate head on them--his dream is to build a truly terrifying haunted house. Although his thirtieth birthday is approaching soon, it doesn't show one bit.

Teruo's brother, Hisanobu (Okada Yoshinori), on the other hand, does a better job of acting his age. He always tries to please everyone at the hospital that employs him, but he's hopelessly single and ultimately bored with himself. He immediately falls for Akari (Kimura Yoshino), the attractive, introverted star-of-the-show who's so clumsy it's almost unbelievable. We first meet her as she spies on an eccentric homeless woman who builds colorful statues from garbage and scotch tape. Armed with binoculars in one hand and fish sausage in the other--which she has a sweet tooth for--she peers at her from behind a rock. When she returns home to her small apartment, she plays a cassette of rain sounds, makes expressive portraits of the woman with oil pastels, and hangs them around the room for only herself to enjoy.

After a short period of time, Akari leaves her job at the hospital, where she once worked alongside Hisanobu, and instead finds work at the bookstore. It doesn't take long for Teruo to take interest in her, which is where the love triangle begins. ZENZEN doesn't exactly have a typical, defined plot line, but it does present a engaging, hilarious character study. Judging by the laughter I heard throughout the movie at its North American premiere, I would venture to say that the audience didn't mind this element.

I cannot stress how well-crafted the humor is, particularly from someone new to the business. While ZENZEN can come off as quirky and unusual, it's presented in a fairly realistic manner. That's not to say the dialogue is sparse, but, for the most part, the pacing is more comparable to that of a drama than a comedy. Others may find this to be the film's weakness, but I would argue that it's the key to making it soar.

How anyone could not fall in love with this charming underdog of a film is beyond my comprehension. I dare you not to laugh.

*A note to IMDbers: I don't give out 10 stars too often, so don't take my score too lightly. Also, it supposedly won the Audience Award at the New York Asian Film Festival.

Either Side Of The World

[crossbow0106 · 9/10 · 19 September 2012]

This is a small film in that it is about a few people and the film just goes along slowly, but there is an unusual poetic sense to it. Teruo is 29 and a tree pruner who also delights in scaring people and wants to open up "The Ultimate Haunted House". Akari watches a homeless woman who displays dolls outside her ramshackle dwelling. Akari paints pictures of her. She gets a job as an orderly at a clinic and is a total klutz and resigns. She ends up working with Teruo's father's bookshop, as the father, seemingly needing a break from life, takes a trip. There are also side characters, including a young man with half of his face covered in a rash. This film is a seemingly nonchalant view of the human condition, of acceptance of those who are "different" and a search for happiness that may be just within reach. This is not a mainstream film, it is slow moving, with intermittent comedic flourishes, but it is very well made. You feel better about yourself after watching it and that is some ringing endorsement.

Not feeling it

[ethSin · 5/10 · 2 October 2008]

A quirky comedy, I was really impressed with Kimura Yoshino. She portrayed her introverted character very well, and there were funny scenes here and there with her clumsiness, but I just wasn't feeling it. I absolutely did not connect with the characters. The natural creepiness of Yoshiyoshi was perfect for this role, and although I enjoyed seeing him in many movies and TV shows and he was pretty funny in this movie, I don't believe for a second that he has what it takes to be in the leading role. And of course, quirky movies like this never has a strong storyline. I guess it's a love-or-hate movie that just didn't work for me.

I really liked the message in this movie though, that life is not all about money or success, and it's fine to just be yourself. I have enjoyed Kimura Yoshino's acting before, and I love it even more now. Definitely looking forward to see more of her movies in the future.

"I'm fine"

[missraze · 10/10 · 14 April 2016]

I love when the female lead, the clumsy sweetheart she is, says "I'm fine," while she struggles with her hilariously appalling motor skills, such as opening simple things, holding things, wrapping things, and walking from one side of the room to the other to get or return something. She does this all because she is very shy and nervous, and it's endearing while vaguely tear jerking, at least for me. She struggles while she is trying to survive, and it's admirable, but also kind of painful to see her struggle with the things she struggles in.

Maybe she has social anxiety, and the directing style of the film seems to exaggerate for comical purposes the true symptoms of being insecure while kind, such as breaking things or hurting yourself while on your way to do something simple.

Everyone in this film is not fine at all. They're struggling to find jobs, life purpose, and love. Each character. This is the most quirky comedy I've seen in a while and for the time being ever, and definitely out of Japan. I have ruefully come across loads of random and hunted Japanese films simply to find one like this and I have failed immensely, while discovering Gore meantime, which has its good and bad.

It's so funny, so many laugh out loud moments, memorable moments, odd moments, adorable moments, never a boring moment, just more of a downtime from the peculiar previous scene.

Basically the two friends start feuding after her, but way into the film. I suppose some people were expecting their feud to be early, ongoing and raucous. So they call it boring. But we need to understand the characters before we can value the feud, no? Their rivalry is approached with a series of failed attempts to find love or status or excitement while on the job, including their crush's eccentric failures. And it's adorable the way the two friends separately meet the girl finally, and when they are all in the same space finally. People need patience and need to appreciate a film that doesn't just jet to the plot without character development nor creativity; this builds it with scenery and cinematography.

popcorn

[LunarPoise · 5/10 · 28 November 2011]

Fine, Totally Fine is a low-key movie about a slacker turning thirty and still dreaming of building the ultimate Haunted House attraction. That trope gives a few scares and laughs in the meandering narrative. Quirky, klutzy female Akari (Yoshino Kimura) comes along and creates a love triangle that resolves itself as a square. Little else happens. This is not so much a feel-good film as a feel-not-so-bad film. YosiYosi Arakawa, an acquired taste at the best of times, is given a rare leading role and holds up well, though mostly shows why he is highly regarded as a character actor. Yoshinori Okada as his erstwhile rival in love is more charismatic in a muted role. Yoshino Kimura as the sought after Akari hams it up in the way Japanese TV audiences love. Salarymen will swoon.

I saw this a couple of months ago, and while it was mildly entertaining, I forgot to review it. Doing so now, I realise I can hardly remember anything about the film. Which kind of says it all - fleeting, slight, inoffensive. Decent entertainment, but not much else.

Slow, Totally Slow...

[paul_haakonsen · 3/10 · 2 May 2012]

"Fine, Totally Fine" was a rather disappointment of a movie. I had read lots of nice reviews about it, so I decided to buy it from Amazon. And now having sat through it, I feel somewhat disillusioned.

The story in "Fine, Totally Fine" moves forward at an amazingly slow pace. The story takes forever to get nowhere. And that is a such a drag to sit through. Sure the story had some interesting moments, but wow, it was just unbearable to sit through. The story is about being human, about being somewhat different in the world and trying to fit in.

Now, what worked in the movie was the quirky characters. Each of the different characters in "Fine, Totally Fine" were really odd in some way - some major, some minor. And the people they had cast to portray these odd people did a really great job, and that was what kept me sitting through this movie. It was really nice to see these odd people brought to life on the screen, despite the movie was painstakingly slow in progressing.

For a Japanese movie of this type, then "Fine, Totally Fine" could have been much, much better - sad to say. Sure, this is a beautiful movie in its own rights, but I just think that I wasn't the particular target audience that the director had in mind when they made this movie. Despite the quirky and lovable characters, then "Fine, Totally Fine" is not a DVD that I will be putting into the DVD player a second time. It was just too slow a movie.

I am a big fan of Asian cinema, and "Fine, Totally Fine" wasn't amongst the enjoyable movies in my particular liking.