Waterboys (2001)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Shinobu Yaguchi

Writers:

Yasushi Fukuda (screenplay)
Shinobu Yaguchi (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 September 2001 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Plot:

In a Japanese school, 5 adolescent geeks join the new sport teacher and take up the challenge to take part in the competition, in spite of the mockeries of the "real sportsmen". |

Plot Keywords:

High School Athlete | Dolphin Trainer | Unusual Method Of Training | Synchronized Swimming | High School Friends

Awards:

3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Satoshi Tsumabuki	...	Suzuki
Hiroshi Tamaki	...	Sato
Akifumi Miura	...	Ohta
Koen Kondo	...	Kanazawa
Takatoshi Kaneko	...	Saotome
Aya Hirayama	...	Shizuko Kiuchi
Kaori Manabe	...	Mrs. Sakuma
Takashi Kawamura	...	Ikeuchi
Hiroshi Matsunaga	...	Mochizuki
Yûya Nishikawa	...	Sakamoto
Katsuyuki Yamazaki	...	Yama-chan
Taiyô Sugiura	...	Taiyô
Koutarou Tanaka	...	Koutarou
Makoto Ishihara	...	Makoto
Naoshi Saitô	...	Naoshi

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:All | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:PG

Company:

Altamira Pictures Inc.

Movie Connections:

Spin off "Waterboys" (2003)

Soundtrack:

GAKUEN TENGOKU

And I thought Chaplin was the funniest

"Waterboys" is the featured film on the opening night in this year's Eiga Sai in Manila. I didn't anticipate I would be laughing my toxins out. It's a hilarious movie. I thought I'd never laugh so hard again after watching a Charlie Chaplin movie years back. This Japanese film is incredibly and enjoyably funny. It totally amazes me how the Japanese are able to evoke the whole range of emotions in their audience, i.e., laughter in comedy films, profound sadness in drama. (I still haven't gotten over the heartache from watching "Grave of the Fireflies".) "Waterboys" has a very simple plot. It would have been banal and jejune in the hands of an ordinary storyteller. The storytelling technique was effortless, but the use of slow motion matched with a perfect comedic timing produced a remarkably hilarious film. To be able to make people laugh from one's belly and in so many continuous fractions of a minute is a gift. "Waterboys" cast and crew are gifted. I've never cracked up so hard in my whole life. The adrenalin kick from watching it is yet to subside. One disadvantage: I don't know if any Hollywood comedy films can ever make me laugh again.