Waterboys (2001) User Reviews

A Nutshell Review: Waterboys

[DICK STEEL · 8/10 · 14 May 2007]

I had enjoyed Japanese writer-director Shinobu Yaguchi's Swing Girls back in 2004, in a story of how a group of schoolgirls mobilized to form a big band jazz group, trained and finally perform in competition. It had a simple story made great by the excellent cast in endearing characters, as well as awesome jazz music to go along. In my attempt to revisit some of his earlier works, it had led me back to the Waterboys.

Waterboys almost follows the same formula, where a group of misfits get together, and against all odds and everyone's pessimism, manage to pull through and put up one heck of a performance. Along the way, they encounter seemingly implausible obstacles which stand to derail their plans and hopes, and sometimes watching them come through in comedic ways just puts a smile on you. It's one of those feel good movies without any real villains to snarl at, just being there to cheer them on as they try to give one of the best performances of their mundane lives.

A youthful looking Satoshi Tsumabuki (starred in this year's Nada Sou Sou) plays Suzuki, the only member of his school's swim team, who gets more members than he bargained for when a beautiful teacher, Mrs Sakuma (Kaori Manabe) becomes the swim coach of the all- boys school. But after a comedy of errors, we're left with 5 nerdy boys who must rough it out to be synchronized swimmers instead, bringing guffaws from their schoolmates and folks in their neighbourhood.

Not wanting to give up, they enlist the reluctant help of a dolphin trainer (Naoto Takenaka, who was also in Swing Girls) at Sea World, who trains them through unorthodox methods, which brings on the laughter and allows space for the boys to exude charm during their weird routines. It's basically an underdog's story and their struggles to fulfill a promise, whether or not they look stupid or effeminate while doing it. And thrown into the mix is a budding romance between Suzuki, and Shizuko Kiuchi (Aya Hirayama), a female karate exponent from a neighbouring all-girls school.

And when they finally get their act going, you'll be left wanting more. That's how a bubblegum movie should be, in order to cover its breezy, simple plot. Thoroughly entertaining, and suitable for all ages.

The Code 3 DVD from Alliance Entertainment (as with most locally pressed DVDs) comes without any special features. Visuals are letterboxed, and the quality of transfer is decent. The audio comes in Dolby Digital Stereo, and subtitles are available in English or Chinese. Scene selection is available in 8 chapters.

Male synchro... I just love this movie

[kalendradee · 8/10 · 24 January 2005]

I love the characters in this movie. Suzuki's the only guy left on the swim team (because its really that bad). He's on the verge of deciding he's pretty worthless when a few things happen to spice up his life.

A female teacher comes to the all male school to be a swim instructor and the boys come out in drones. Haha funny part is that she didn't know it was an all boys school and she intended to start a synchronized swimming team, but that is unheard of for guys to do it - it's laughable.

So there you have Suzuki, Sato a kid with an afro who claims to have dumped the basketball team to swim, Ohta the one joining the team to get buff, Kanazawa a math nerd that feels the need to learn to swim and stay afloat because of the science in it, and Saotome the guy who has an eye on one of the swim team.

They have a few disasters before actually getting to the synchro performance, you watch the friendships build and good things finally happening for the misfits. It's a really enjoyable funny film.

A hilarious japanese-style anime-esque comedy

[lucasinian · 7/10 · 12 November 2002]

"Waterboys" is a comedy, a very anime-esque one too, which doesn't mean a bad thing. In fact, I liked this movie for its funny moments and wacky plot elements.

The story is basically about five high school boys who decide to learn synchronized swimming, influenced by the new coach of their school's swimming team, Sakuma; An attractive young woman that is into synchro swimming. However, because of an unexpected incident, Sakuma has to go on vacation, leaving the team without supervision. With the Tadano High's summer festival coming very soon, every club from the school is preparing a special event on their own. Suzuki and friends eventually decide to organize a special sync swimming show, with the help of a dolphin trainer. Of course, this wouldn't be an interesting movie, if they didn't face some unexpected events along the way...

This is a real feel-good movie that almost everyone can enjoy. Some situations are totally hilarious, reminding me of japanese anime. The five main characters couldn't be more colourful and the acting was superb as well. Shinobu Yaguchi did an awesome job directing this movie, which is a mixture of a lot of nifty elements, from the great characters to the unbelievable humorous moments, this movie is just great.

I haven't watched Yaguchi's other works like Adrenaline Drive, for example, so I'm not sure how this one compares to them. But I'm sure if you like comedies and you're a bit open-minded, you'll like "Waterboys".

Not as fun as Swing Girls but pretty good...

[jmaruyama · 6/10 · 21 February 2006]

Yaguchi Shinobu is quickly becoming one of my favorite Japanese directors. His movies don't pretend to have any agenda other than entertaining audiences. I enjoyed both his "Adrenaline Drive" and "Swing Girls" a lot and consider them some of my all-time favorite movies. "Waterboys" was made in-between the two aforementioned films, and while it shares the same type of lighthearted drama and infectious comedy of the others, I didn't quite warm up to it as much as the other films. Perhaps it has to do more with the subject matter at hand then anything else. I didn't find the humor behind an all male "synchro" swim team all that hilarious. Granted there are a lot of funny scenes in the movie especially when "Shall We Dance's" Takenaka Naoto begins training the boys using some very unconventional methods, like using the game "Dance Dance Revolution" to give the boys dance rhythm or using dolphin training exercises to improve their swimming. The ending performance was a bit painful to watch and many may cringe at the sight of skinny kids dancing to the J-Pop music of Puffy and Finger Five. That being said, I found "Waterboys" to be an enjoyable movie and while I don't like it as much as "Swing Girls", it certainly is another feather in the cap of director Yaguchi. Here's hoping he continues to make great and fun movies.

Recommended

[simon_booth · 9/10 · 31 January 2003]

It's a Japanese comedy about a group of male synchronised swimmers - how cool is that!?

Well, "not very", you'd be forgiven for thinking... certainly I wouldn't have been interested, if not for consistently positive low level press amongst the internet community. Thankfully, the warm response is quite justified - Waterboys takes its seemingly mundane premise (perhaps more resonant in patriarchal Japan) and turns it into a delightful little comedy.

Suzuki is the only member of the swimming team at Tadano Boy's High School... until the new swimming teacher arrives and she is an extremely "hot babe". Suddenly everybody wants to be on the swim team... until they discover that what she teaches is Synchronised Swimming. Apparently, this is considered an extremely non-manly thing to do in Japan. Only five pupils decide to stick with it anyway, for personal reasons that you will discover through the course of the movie. Everyone laughs at them, ridicules them and above all doubts them... so naturally the impetus to succeed is strong.

Waterboys is a genre movie at heart, taking the standard sports movie misfits and putting them through trials and tests to see what heights they can rise to under pressure. Nothing too surprising, but it's all dressed up quite charmingly here. Quirky characters genuinely engage your interest and affections, and the humour is brisk and mostly absurd. The script treads familiar ground without it ever seeming tired or cliched, finding new ways of exploring each situation. It's a funny movie, a very sweet movie and a highly enjoyable one.

Recommended.

A positive and upbeat sports comedy

[Gordon-11 · 16 October 2010]

This film is about five students from a boys school getting into the synchronised swimming team.

"Waterboys" is a positive sports comedy. The five students have quite different personalities, but they all pursue a common goal of excelling at synchronised swimming, which is something they have never dreamed of doing. I thought it might be hard to fill up the screen time as most of the film is about how they train, yet it never feels boring. in fact, there are many funny moments standing out from a positive and upbeat background. The ending, which is their performance, is spectacular. I hope there will be more films like this.

both funny and serious

[dolive-578-564987 · 7/10 · 26 September 2020]

Young lads overcome stereotypes to become proficient athletes at a sport with which they're unfamiliar, with lots of laughs along the way toward a marvelous water show finale.

Water Boys

[nakataohana · 9/10 · 11 January 2005]

This is a light hearted comedy of 5 young men in their last year of (boys only) high school who sign up for a swim team under the direction of a new female coach. The 5 young men who have seen themselves fail in other traditional sports, discover their strengths and overcome weaknesses in their pursuit to participate as a synchronized swim team at their school festival.

The plot had unexpected twists and turns that kept me laughing as new elements, such as the new girlfriend, a trainer who used non-traditional methods, an unexpected pregnancy, drag queens, and a girls high school were added. In Japan, synchronized swimming is normally seen as a women's sport.

It was a very enjoyable movie!

Take any Micky and Judy movie.. Add water and five Japanese schoolboys...

[Havan_IronOak · 9/10 · 26 November 2001]

Five adorable and well-meaning misfits at a Japanese high school try to organize a synchronized swimming team, but their early efforts at a routine end in disaster. They persevere, and with the help of a Dolphin Trainer from the local aquarium they eventually get it right and earn the respect of their peers.

And I thought Chaplin was the funniest

[japhearttok · 9/10 · 30 September 2004]

"Waterboys" is the featured film on the opening night in this year's Eiga Sai in Manila. I didn't anticipate I would be laughing my toxins out. It's a hilarious movie. I thought I'd never laugh so hard again after watching a Charlie Chaplin movie years back. This Japanese film is incredibly and enjoyably funny. It totally amazes me how the Japanese are able to evoke the whole range of emotions in their audience, i.e., laughter in comedy films, profound sadness in drama. (I still haven't gotten over the heartache from watching "Grave of the Fireflies".) "Waterboys" has a very simple plot. It would have been banal and jejune in the hands of an ordinary storyteller. The storytelling technique was effortless, but the use of slow motion matched with a perfect comedic timing produced a remarkably hilarious film. To be able to make people laugh from one's belly and in so many continuous fractions of a minute is a gift. "Waterboys" cast and crew are gifted. I've never cracked up so hard in my whole life. The adrenalin kick from watching it is yet to subside. One disadvantage: I don't know if any Hollywood comedy films can ever make me laugh again.

Great Movie!

[ekim-11 · 10/10 · 27 December 2006]

This was a wonderful movie. I thought it was hilarious beginning to the end. The formula of the movie has been done over and over again, a group of underdogs who rise to the occasion and prove all their doubters wrong. Yes it was a regular Hollywood-ish formula, but the actors were so enjoyable to watch, that it was really fresh to watch. The fact it was a story about a male synchronize swim team is already groundbreaking in my eyes. I enjoyed the facial expressions from both Sato and Suzuki during moments of disgust and surprise. And the Sea World Man is so funny. He resembles my uncle so much. I would definitely buy this movie and highly recommend it. Be forewarned, there are scenes that may offend people who aren't used to the culture of metro sexuality and/or homosexuality. If you can get past all that, you will truly enjoy this movie.

fun film

[LunarPoise · 9/10 · 8 May 2008]

Waterboys opens with a laugh-out-loud visual gag, and pretty much doesn't let up from then on in. The story is that the high school swim team is all but defunct, perennial loser Suzuki being the last remaining member. When a hot young female teacher arrives and takes charge, the membership swells, only to recede again when she reveals her plans to have them become synchronized swimmers. The remaining five pupils are already battling against the odds when their new-found mentor leaves them in the lurch.

So far, so formulaic, but all this happens in the first two minutes and then Yaguchi lets his characters run the story. Tsumabaki does well as the encumbered team captain, his relationship with a ditsy girlfriend adding light romantic interest. Takenaka Naoto reprises his Shall We Dance OTT routine to great effect as the team's cynical trainer. But this is an ensemble piece, the laughs coming from the direction and choreography as much as the performances. One disastrous training session exceeds funny to become hilarious through the judicious decision to shoot it in slow motion.

The film is quick-paced, and best of all it never takes itself too seriously. Tone-wise, think The Full Monty without the sentimental bits. Suzuki and Hirayama hardly hold hands, never mind kiss, but he needs somebody to react to his triumph at the end.

In short, a very funny film with an uplifting swimfest sequence at the end.

Synchro! Synchro! Synchro!

[Juggertrout · 8/10 · 21 March 2009]

Waterboys is a zany, sweet comedy about a group of boys who get roped into starting a synchronised swimming team, and then have to get together a routine for an exhibition in a few weeks time! It's fun stuff that aims low and hits hard. There are lots of great sight gags and other slapstick comedy, but there's also an interesting love story and fantastic acting from the boys.

The film rolls along at a great pace, with Yaguchi a talented director treating us to lengthy tracking shots and other technical flourishes. The film never bores and always pleases, and as we head towards the climax, the comedy keeps coming, and the final 'routine' will delight you with its genius. A fun, endlessly rewatchable madcap comedy.

got a kick out of it! (this comment's sort of a spoiler)

[feilochai · 10/10 · 2 July 2006]

i just wanted to see aya hirayama and ended up liking the movie. i wasn't too sure if it was going to be a good movie or not but i thought i would give it a chance since it got such a good rating from IMDb. turns out that the fans were right. to me, this movie seems to be along the lines of joe dirt and school of rock. the kind of movie where the "underdogs" prevail and make a good name for themselves in the end. there was plenty of comedy throughout the whole movie. it was especially funny to see the bad guy from "azumi" act like a dork since he was such a ruthless leader in azumi. and of course, aya hirayama was looking good as always!

sloppy start but ...

[ops-52535 · 8/10 · 29 August 2020]

I really got engaged and nearly started applauding the achievments done in the end, syncronized swimming aint easy, and very womanized, so when the japanese boys does a take on this subject, it has to be embarasing and righteous fun. though its very classic manga japanese style, with uniformed pupils everywhere, it shows a lot of the cultural genderistic and traditional japanese way of life. love and sexuality are very constricted and the humbleness and bowbending respect between hi and low and boy and girl is archtypical

its for a norwegian the kind of witty and dry humour so you might have to adjust your sense of humour a bit, but it is a comedy you should see. made in 2003 the speedoes and arenas are small and extremely tight, but there are no beer bellies or hairy creatures in this movie, so it should suit you all.

the grumpy old man, nowadays to stiff and fibrmyalgic to even stretch my knees, did some of this stuff in my glory days of youth. and being able to make me laugh its a recommend.

Hilarious, ludicrous comedy

[lulamorashi · 9/10 · 17 April 2008]

I watched this movie in my year 11 (tenth grade) Japanese class, and we found it absolutely fantastic. Of course, like many "sillier" comedies it made absolutely no sense in some parts (e.g. The swimming teacher: "It turns out I'm eight months pregnant! I thought I was just gaining weight!" I'm glad there is no dubbed version as that would have killed it completely. It is very crazy and much of the comedy comes from sheer silliness or slapstick- acting not so good but this is more or less disregarded and often adds to the comedy.

If you're looking for Friday night fun with boys with killer Dance Dance Revolution moves and a run like Napoleon Dynamite, this is your movie.

Super Funny!

[yiuleungf · 9/10 · 21 May 2021]

It's a super funny movie full of interesting moments and absurd jokes. I regret not having watched this move 20 years ago. I like the twist near the ending of the film where they have to change the venue of their show to a girl school which really sets up a great stage for the final show. An easy 9 out of 10.