Koara kachô (2005)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Minoru Kawasaki

Writers:

Minoru Kawasaki (writer)
Masakazu Migita (writer)

Release Date:

14 January 2006 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Executive | Revenge | Alcatraz | Parody | Albino

Cast

Lee Ho
Eiichi Kikuchi
Arthur Kuroda
Hironobu Nomura
Hideki Saijo
Hitomi Takashima	...	Hiromi

Also Known As:

Executive Koala (International: English title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Colour:

Colour

a great idea but doesn't go quite as far as it could

A 6-foot tall talking koala who also happens to be an executive at a pickle manufacturer? Yes, indeed, that's what this is all about, but it's also about a 6-foot tall talking koala who MAY also be a brutal killer. Now, the office girls talk about him, oh, he's too furry, etc., but when he is questioned as a possible suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, well, furriness is the least of their concerns.

But how could such a cuddly creature, who seems so polite and mild-mannered, have committed such a crime? Well, let's see, his boss is a 6-foot tall talking white rabbit, who may have something to do with all this. And what of our Korean visitors, who have reached a deal with Tamura (the koala) to partner up in marketing Kimchee? HE has a giant flying squirrel named Momo, who likes Tamura a lot. And he claims to know Tamura's former wife, who disappeared mysteriously and who supposedly told him that Tamura abused her before her disappearance. Tamura is very confused, but he also gets strange messages with his food at a local convenience store, provided to him by a helpful frog. Tamura suffers what seems to be a blackout & more dead bodies are found nearby, necessitating his incarceration at "Alactrazu".

Only the Japanese could come up with a psychological thriller with giant cuddly animals (well, the frog isn't very cuddly-looking). It's actually not bad for what it is, but the premise could have been taken a bit further, in my opinion. It's not as funny as it could have been, although it is rather amusing. You sympathize with poor Tamura because how could something so cuddly be so murderous? Now that I've seen this I will have to seek out the Calamari Wrestler, because I originally passed on that but now I'm curious.

Anyway, this is worth a look, and the theme song "Go, Go, Executive Koala" is like right out of a kid's show or something, except for the lyrics. Fun stuff, but kind of ridiculous. 7 out of 10.