NYAFF 09 Review: ANTIQUE

[Our thanks to Pat Dahn for the following review.]

Mmmm, what a treat this movie is. Based on the manga ANTIQUE BAKERY, it's the story of four men running a gourmet cake shop. And fittingly, it's a complete visual feast- from the bright color scheme and set design to the beautiful pastries on display (not to mention the four foxy guys), it's just a joy to watch. I'd love to see this one on the big screen.

I found myself catching my breath after some of the musical numbers, they're edited at such a lightning pace with so much detail in each frame, but it eases off in the other segments. Despite the flash, it's the interaction between four characters that carries the movie. There's the troubled, amnesiac owner, his bumbling assistant, the chef- a self-professed “gay of demonic charm”, and his apprentice, a smart-ass former boxer. And while they do sometimes lean on stereotype, it's the way they're treated as real, deep characters that makes the movie.

The running time is almost 2 hours, but thanks to the solid work by all four actors and the quirky, confident production it breezes by. Even later when an unnecessarily darker sub-plot develops, the mystery and tension is presented with the same pop sheen and the tone remains consistent. The NYAFF movie guide puts ANTIQUE in its “Sexylicious” category, and I imagine this movie fits better than any of the others- sexy and delicious.

ANTIQUE screens June 22 and 27

Review by Pat Dahn