Poking fun at the Japanese monster movie heyday, Big Man Japan doesn’t require a heavy knowledge of all things Godzilla to enjoy. The men-in-suits have been replaced by surreal CG that doesn’t quite mix well with the mockumentary thru-line, but all in all, it’s still a good time.
The story centers on Daisato, the sixth in a line of Japanese superheroes who have been keeping Japan safe from monsters for generations. While his grandfather was hailed as a national hero, Daisato is seen as an oaf, a hero who makes it all worse than it has to be. And for the most part, this opinion is true – in his encounters with monsters, he only ends up defeating them by accident, which also usually involves lots of property damage.
Still, the Ministry of Defense calls him up when there’s a monster on the loose, and sure enough there are several. All of indeterminate origin, they wreak havoc in their own special ways. One likes to squeeze things and topple them over. Another is just a head on a hopping leg. Through it all, Big Man chases these bad guys around and just barely manages to stop their reigns of terror, looking like a man who’s just been given a sheriff’s badge and has no idea what to do with it.
In between these clumsy, deliberately-paced battles, Daisato talks about the small stuff, like why he likes umbrellas (they get bigger when you want them to) in several subdued interviews that range from amusing to just plain filler. But Daisato’s hangdog demeanor comes through – it seems that even though the world needs someone like Daisato, that’s exactly the problem – they need someone like Daisato, only much better. He’s a reluctant hero who’s been given supernatural powers but not the superhuman ability to use them. While having a towering hero in the shadow of Hiroshima was a rallying moment for the country back in his grandfather’s day, having a hero now just seems like a burden.
His luck turns when an especially aggressive monster gets the better of him, something his viewing audience (yes, he has a TV show, just not in a plum time slot) loves. And just when he’s on a popular track again, he commits a cardinal sin for any hero and his story devolves into a sort of wish-fulfillment conclusion that still doesn’t let the hero off the hook.
Big Man gets in several good natured jabs at superhero movies – a particularly nice one is aimed at the Hulk – and there are probably even more laughs to be had if you’re well-versed in Japanese TV. The CG isn’t flawless, but it isn’t bargain basement, either, and its cartoonish-ness works in favor of the tone. Just as the rubber Godzilla suit was obviously fake but perversely scary, these representations of heroes and monsters are perversely funny, verging on creepy.
That’s the edge the movie trades on for its best laughs. The concoction of small character bits and grand action that has been tried before – Hancock, for instance – but not with this light a touch. Matumoto has found something special here.
Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic, the film looks good, though the live action and CG elements just don’t mix well. Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 in Japanese with English and Spanish subtitles. All audio is top notch.
Making of Big Man Japan with Commentary – An hour-long, in-depth doc about the making of the film. Good material for those interested in the process, but since this isn’t a ground-breaking film, this isn’t a must-see. The optional commentary adds some laughs to this feature. (1:08:00)
Deleted Scenes – Eight interview scenes cut from the movie. Nothing all that revelatory here. (52:34)
Big Man Japan gets a little sleepy in its interview bits, but the battles are great and the final scene demands to be watched more than once.
Magnet Releasing presents Big Man Japan. Directed by: Hitosi Matumoto. Starring: Hitosi Matumoto, Riki Takeuchi, Ua, Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Itsuji Itao. Written by: Hitosi Matumoto and Mitsuyoshi Takasu. Running time: 108min. Rating: PG-13. Released on DVD: July 28, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
