Asian

MOVIE REVIEW . Funky Forest: The First Contact

Directors: Katsuhito Ishii, Hajime Ishimine (aka: Aniki),and Shunichiro Miki
Starring: Tadanobu Asano, Susumu Terajima, Kazue Fukiishi, Rinko Kikuchi
Genre: Japan, Comedy

I’ve come to dig the works of Katsuhito Ishii over the course of his three previous theatrical releases. Sharkskin and Peach Hip Girl was endlessly hilarious. Party 7 was a bit of a nosedive, but all was forgiven following the excellent A Taste of Tea (though, to be completely honest, I can’t remember much of the movie at the moment). From what I’d seen of the Funky Forest trailers, it looked like things were only getting more strange and more fun. And then there was the cast: Tadanobu Asano, Susumu Terajima, Kazue Fukiishi, Rinko Kikuchi - actors I could watch in damn near anything. Katsuhito Ishii and crew were indeed setting out to create the be-all end-all of Japanese gonzo comedies. I was excited, to say the list. Now, having finally purchased the Funky Forest DVD Special Edition (only 4 years late!), I was finally able to check out what cult enthusiasts were touting as Ishii’s masterpiece…

Only, it completely sucks. Clocking in at close to 2 and a half hours, the film is already way overlong for a comedy, and given the terrible pacing, hackneyed edits, and overall lack of direction, Funky Forest: First Contact becomes interminable. In fact, it’s so bad, it makes Party 7 look like award winning material.

The setup is something like Kentucky Fried Movie, by way of Four Rooms and the atrociously unfunny setups of today’s Adult Swim and Saturday Night Live, with occasional dashes of Cronenberg for good measure. Writers/Directors Katsuhito Ishii, Hajime Ishimine (aka: Aniki),and Shunichiro Miki have created a series of vignettes parodying Japanese Television, mangaka, and hentai fetishes, while celebrating music, love, life, and absurdity. And on paper, it sounds pretty cool. In execution, however…let’s just say to enjoy this comedy requires the viewer to be stoned. Really really stoned.

While certain characters in the various vignettes carry over through multiple sequences (ie: three brothers who are unlucky with women, known as the Guitar Brother(s); a groups of annoying businesswomen called the “Babbling Hot Springs Vixens”, and a lame couple who spout pretentious nonsense about music and love), only the most rudimentary efforts are made toward seeing they somehow tie together. There’s a big buildup in the middle of the film regarding a singles picnic, involving the Guitar Brothers and possibly the vixens, but while completed, it feels completely unfinished. Likewise, the lame and uninteresting couple have a discussion regarding their dreams, which are later explored in lengthy, and sadly uninteresting musical segments (even the music is lame), and then completely abandoned in the film’s final sequences. Most of these little bits meander on, with seemingly improvised dialog, eating up precious minutes of film while putting the audience to sleep. Even the Funky Forest, when finally visited, proves to be not all that funky, the fatty beats provided by tree-mixers, “Volume” sputtering and dying before ever breaking out the fun.

But there are a couple sequences that prove interesting. There are some brief bits of Guitar Brother Asano playing guitar, some freaky sequences with an anal television and assorted space-creatures, and a series of Rock and Roll High-School homages called Home Room!!!!!!!!! (Kikuchi has one of the more interesting segments). The visual style of the film is also incredibly rich, with a nice balance of bright and deep colors, impeccably framed shots, and an overall appealing look and feel. Furthermore, the film has some surprisingly good CG and prosthetic work, which never failed to surprise us, despite our general feeling of irritation with the film.

However, in closing, Funky Forest proves a complete waste of time. In fact, it is one of the rare films so terrible you will actually regret, and scold yourself for having sit through. Don’t be a sap. Avoid this one at all costs.

About the Author

Chris Nelson has been a film fanatic since age six. A former film and English major, he is now a Software Engineer and contract Technical Writer living in the Silicon Valley.