Vancouver 09: TOAD'S OIL Review

[Our thanks to Teresa Nieman for the following review.]

Koji Yakusho is arguably one of the best actors of his generation, and now, with Toad's Oil, he's decided he wants to direct. The man has acted in some of Japan's greatest films, with some of its finest filmmakers. So how does he stack up in his behind-the-camera debut?

Giving himself the lead role, but not in a way that comes off as remotely vain, Yakusho--who has brooded with the best of them in the past--opts to make a heartwarming comedy. He plays Takuro Yazawa, a goofy millionaire who's been able to avoid ever having a real job by making his fortune via online stock trading. He lives in a Western-style mansion with his wife and son, Takuya, where they await a visit from Takuya's childhood friend, Akiba. Things start to fall apart for the family when Takuya is hit by a car and falls into a coma on his way to retrieve Akiba from reform school.

With no grasp of the situation's severity, Takuro continues about his daily life without worrying too much about his son. He even plays along when Takuya's girlfriend mistakes his voice to be her boyfriend's on the phone. While he means no harm, Takuro's behaviour is certainly a little alarming, and more than a little immature. Thankfully, the makeshift relationship never turns icky. This just isn't that kind of movie--it doesn't have a sinister bone in its body.

When things quickly go from bad to worse for Takuro's family, he embarks on a mini spiritual journey by way of caravan. The path of the film, from here on out, is a very whimsical and humorous one, even delving into the fantastical when Takuro takes on a CGI bear in the forest and stumbles upon a travelling couple who sell Toad's Oil. The oil itself is sort of the Japanese equivalent of snake oil: an old wives' tale product peddled by shiesty salemen that may or may not actually work. In this case the salesman and his wife appear to be vaguely mystical--not aging a day since Takuro first saw them as a child. He finds their presence to be somewhat of a life affirmation, and (naturally) returns to turn over a new leaf, hoping that it's never too late to do just that. The whole arc, aside from a few crazy incidents including the aforementioned bear one, is predictable. That doesn't make it any less enjoyable.

So yes, ultimately, the movie is a delightful and poignant experience even if it never quite transcends that. Yakusho, who helped devise the film's story, had also recorded an intro specifically for the Vancouver festival. To paraphrase, he said he hoped the audience would be able to relate to the themes of love, loss, and remembering those we care about. In that regard, he succeeds completely. With his confident camera skills and surplus of heart, humour, and mischief, Yakusho should have no trouble flourishing in this new career path. Not to mention, he's got access to one of Japan's greatest thespians whenever he needs it, and that will always make his movies worth watching.

Review by Teresa Nieman