Review of About Her Brother

I love Yoji Yamamda's films. His films seem to go directly to the heart of the human condition. I think I own almost all of them, so when "About Her Brother" was released, I immediately bought a copy sight unseen. I'm a little sorry I did so. "About Her Brother" is not an example of his usual fare. It seems more like Yoji Yamada took half a script from a Tora-san movie and grafted it onto the script for one of his standard serious dramas. The first half of the film follows, mostly, the comings and goings of a goofy Tora-san-like brother who goes beyond just measure in trying to draw laughs. It really is painful to watch the over acting. The second half of the film is more focused on the family members who suffer misery on the brother's account. Rather than rush out and buy a copy, I would advise movie fans to see it in the theater or rent the DVD first, and then make a decision on whether to buy it or not.