September 01, 2009
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It will split your butt into eight parts.
To be perfectly honest, I had extremely low expectations going into Toshio Lee's infectious 2008 rock & roll epic Detroit Metal City (aka Detoroito Metaru Shiti) despite strong critical praise from various sites not unlike this. Based on the manga by Kiminori Wakasugi, this light-hearted comedy chronicles the misadventures of whiny pop music aficionado Soichi Negishi (Ken'ichi Matsuyama) as he boldly attempts to make a name for himself on the savage streets of Tokyo. After graduating from college, Negishi reluctantly becomes the front man for an underground death metal band called Detroit Metal City (DMC), a job which constantly gets in the way of his budding relationship with a fashionably hip girl he befriended at the university. As our hero's attempts to woe his conservative love interest spiral out of control, Negishi must contend with the increasing popularity of his alter ego, a self-proclaimed "demon" who sports Kiss-style makeup while declaring his love for rape, murder, and general anarchy. Lee has a genuine knack for madcap comedy, as does lead Matsuyama, who bounces wildly from violently maniacal frontman to girlishly effeminate bumpkin with surprising ease. The film is funnier than it has any right to be, due in part to Mika Omori's impossibly sweet script and several memorable musical numbers. Detroit Metal City and its goofy pop-infused madness certainly isn't for everyone, but fans of kinetic Japanese comedies will have plenty to sing about. As always, cheese tarts are optional, though highly recommended.
Recipe For Success: Ken'ichi Matsuyama + A Stable Of Humorous Pop Songs + Japanese Metal Fans Are A Little Frightening
That Guy With The Tongue: Fans of the band Kiss will be thrilled to know that Gene Simmons makes a cameo as America's reigning God of metal.
I thought it was pretty funny, too.
Posted by
The Film Fiend
1 Spasms:
Glad you liked it! It was one of my favorite films at TIFF '08.
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