Sometimes a film can be so bizarre that it leaves you dumbstruck. Usually this means the film is just a mess, but sometimes the bizarreness can transcend whatever it lacks in coherence and you wind up with something approaching the sublime. Or if not sublime, at least exceptionally entertaining. So it is with Big Man Japan.
But see, he’s not always big, usually he’s just a normal sized guy, but when he's summoned he takes a train to the nearest power plant, has jumpers cables attached to his nipples, zapped with what must be a million volts of electricity, and then he becomes big. And his weapon is a club. Also, his battles are televised, though these days his show is aired at 3:00am and not getting such great ratings. And he's an embarrassment to his ex-wife and their daughter and is hated by pretty much everyone, including his agent, who doesn’t let that stop her from cashing in on him by selling advertising space on his giant torso. Oh, and the ending comes out of left field, which seems like an impossibility since the whole film seems to come out of left field. And I haven't even mentioned his grandfather, Big Man Japan the Fourth.
I liked it. I think we could use more films like this. I think films like this function as a kind of cinematic palate cleanser. Now I'm ready to watch Tokyo Story again.
Have you seen it? If yes, let me know what you made of it. If not, and you want to, fasten your seatbelts.
Here’s the trailer.
