Čikjú de tatta futari

Though this story of two girls who run away from a broken home and are taken in by an aging yakuza, a character obviously borrowed from Besson’s Léon (well-known and popular in Japan), has proper audience appeal, it merely recycles all possible clichés and throws one star cameo after another at the viewers. While the film has tremendous potential on all fronts, it unfortunately fails to use it as anything other than a superficial attraction. The straightforward plot and stylistic arrangement are inundated with affectation and excessive bittersweetness and, mainly, the film is kneecapped by its lack of humour and imagination. The result is a film that draws viewers in with a great cast and genre premise, but unfortunately disappoints with its generic execution. (20/01/2015)