Nikui an-chikushô

A riff on Sullivan's Travels that's full of energy. Some of the road stuff is a little tedious, but the camera work is so impressive and full of life.

A colourful and unique film that is hard to get a grasp on at first (it's not hard to follow at all but the plot is odd enough to keep things unpredictable, with some abrupt mood changes along the way) but succeeds through the force of its own confidence.

Once the road trip begins, it is booooooooring.

Alternately a zany road trip adventure, a romantic comedy, a cautionary fable about media frenzy and perhaps an extended metaphor for sexual frustration, it zigs and zags with unbridled glee. Ishihara and Asaoka give their all. The film's aesthetics are a delight. The candy-colored visuals really pop. Where the movie falters is in its middle section, which spins its wheels in somewhat repetitive scenarios. It's a minor speed bump, though, and overall it's an enjoyable, oddball piece of work.