Of all the sources to adapt into a film, I don't think anyone would ever expect Studio Ghibli to adapt a four panel manga series into a feature film. Yet animation legend and Ghibli cofounder Isao Takahata did so any way, mainly by opting for a more simplistic comedic flick that puts more emphasis on the daily vignettes of an eccentric family as opposed to a more conventional linear narrative. While this was a unique alteration, the film was not really a financial hit, possibly due to it being too different for a film made by a company known for pushing the envelope through subtle and emotional storytelling and animation. As for what I think, while I personally don't rank it amongst some of Ghibli's best, it's a decent watch overall.
As stated before, the movie is an adaptation of a four panel manga series. Thus, it isn't really focused on plot as much as a series of comical stories detailing Takashi Yamada and his wacky wife Matsuko, who prosper through the many ups and downs of work, marriage, and their family consisting of a critical grandmother, an unpredictable son, and a naive daughter. As a result, the movie feels more like a compilation of shorts featuring the characters than an actual movie, resulting in comedic scenarios that are hit or miss. While some are very funny and even relatable at times, like being late for something or forgetting something important, others fall a little short and come off as rather dull. Actually, I think the word dull sums up the movie best; even with some really funny moments, the episodic structure leaves the film without much substance or even a spectacle to make it enthralling to sit through.
Now since I haven't seen the Japanese voice dub, I'll only talk about the English dub, which I enjoyed quite a bunch. James Belushi captures the grumpy mannerisms from Takashi perfectly, Molly Shannon really knows how to portray a sweet albeit worrisome mother, Daryl Sabara and Liliana Mumy are adorably quirky as the children, and Tress MacNeille is always a riot when she's voicing elderly women. Given that the film just lets the characters shine through their antics rather than develop them, it relies more on their differing personalities and interactions with one another, so I think they picked a fairly entertaining cast who know how to drive the comedy forward through the microphone.
Adding in to the simplistic comical nature of the film, the animation is presented in a very minimal cartoony design. While most people are used to seeing such painstaking attention to detail in terms of Ghibli's visuals, it is a breath of fresh air to see them tackle a different style. In addition to their designs, the character's movements help elevate their already idiosyncratic attitudes to properly deliver the laughs. Depending on the scene, there would either be little to no backgrounds to represent how mundane life is, or a plethora of creative landscapes, effects and even colorful creatures to heighten the mood and energy, showcasing Takahata's usual passionate commitment to surreal environmental artistry. How funny that the film is based on a comic strip series when it itself is essentially a series of reanimated comic strips.
Overall, despite not really feeling too much like a linear movie, it's hard to really dislike this film, since at the end of the day, it's a simple and innocent slice of life feature that satirizes the modern Japanese family to a humorous degree. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed My Neighbors the Yamadas for what it is, the comedic skit structure makes the film come off as all fun comedy without a lot of intriguing essence. If you're a die hard Ghibli fanatic or you're really into slice of life content, then I'd say this is worth your time, unless you prefer actual stories and narratives to your movies. So yeah, this may be one of my least favorite Studio Ghibli ventures, but its innocent charm does make it a decent watch for the comic strip crowd.
As stated before, the movie is an adaptation of a four panel manga series. Thus, it isn't really focused on plot as much as a series of comical stories detailing Takashi Yamada and his wacky wife Matsuko, who prosper through the many ups and downs of work, marriage, and their family consisting of a critical grandmother, an unpredictable son, and a naive daughter. As a result, the movie feels more like a compilation of shorts featuring the characters than an actual movie, resulting in comedic scenarios that are hit or miss. While some are very funny and even relatable at times, like being late for something or forgetting something important, others fall a little short and come off as rather dull. Actually, I think the word dull sums up the movie best; even with some really funny moments, the episodic structure leaves the film without much substance or even a spectacle to make it enthralling to sit through.
Now since I haven't seen the Japanese voice dub, I'll only talk about the English dub, which I enjoyed quite a bunch. James Belushi captures the grumpy mannerisms from Takashi perfectly, Molly Shannon really knows how to portray a sweet albeit worrisome mother, Daryl Sabara and Liliana Mumy are adorably quirky as the children, and Tress MacNeille is always a riot when she's voicing elderly women. Given that the film just lets the characters shine through their antics rather than develop them, it relies more on their differing personalities and interactions with one another, so I think they picked a fairly entertaining cast who know how to drive the comedy forward through the microphone.
Adding in to the simplistic comical nature of the film, the animation is presented in a very minimal cartoony design. While most people are used to seeing such painstaking attention to detail in terms of Ghibli's visuals, it is a breath of fresh air to see them tackle a different style. In addition to their designs, the character's movements help elevate their already idiosyncratic attitudes to properly deliver the laughs. Depending on the scene, there would either be little to no backgrounds to represent how mundane life is, or a plethora of creative landscapes, effects and even colorful creatures to heighten the mood and energy, showcasing Takahata's usual passionate commitment to surreal environmental artistry. How funny that the film is based on a comic strip series when it itself is essentially a series of reanimated comic strips.
Overall, despite not really feeling too much like a linear movie, it's hard to really dislike this film, since at the end of the day, it's a simple and innocent slice of life feature that satirizes the modern Japanese family to a humorous degree. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed My Neighbors the Yamadas for what it is, the comedic skit structure makes the film come off as all fun comedy without a lot of intriguing essence. If you're a die hard Ghibli fanatic or you're really into slice of life content, then I'd say this is worth your time, unless you prefer actual stories and narratives to your movies. So yeah, this may be one of my least favorite Studio Ghibli ventures, but its innocent charm does make it a decent watch for the comic strip crowd.