Before talking specifically about this film, there are a few things I should mention. First, the correct title for this movie is "Yassa Daruman"....but IMDB lists it as "Yassadaru Man". Second, the mascot in this film, Daruman, was NOT created for this film but existed before the film was made. In fact, he was voted best mascot for Hiroshima prefecture a few years ago.
Hazime is a loser whose job it is to wear the Daruman costume and represent his city. But he has absolutely no energy or desire to do anything with this character and so, naturally, the public couldn't care less about him. But when a cute young lady comes to work with Hazime, he slowly gathers up the energy to do something with the character and his life. But it's not like he jumps into this project....he just kind of slowly falls into enthusiasm for his job.
The film is likable but I really wanted to like it more. First, the story, believe it or not, is a but formulaic and even includes a long montage sequence here Hazime slowly changes. Frankly, SHOWING the change through the course of the story would have been less lazy. Also, the film's ending leaves you feeling like they just ran out of steam and it left me feeling a bit flat. Not a bad film but one that had promise to be much more.
Hazime is a loser whose job it is to wear the Daruman costume and represent his city. But he has absolutely no energy or desire to do anything with this character and so, naturally, the public couldn't care less about him. But when a cute young lady comes to work with Hazime, he slowly gathers up the energy to do something with the character and his life. But it's not like he jumps into this project....he just kind of slowly falls into enthusiasm for his job.
The film is likable but I really wanted to like it more. First, the story, believe it or not, is a but formulaic and even includes a long montage sequence here Hazime slowly changes. Frankly, SHOWING the change through the course of the story would have been less lazy. Also, the film's ending leaves you feeling like they just ran out of steam and it left me feeling a bit flat. Not a bad film but one that had promise to be much more.
