Feel-good comedy/drama apparently based on a Japanese manga story. A female, middle-aged, successful writer of manga, Asoko, loses her inspiration after her long time companion, Saba, a cat, dies. Asoko is sad and alone. A quirky group of young all-female assistant writers who work with and adore Asoko, encourage her to get a new cat and try to set her up with a boyfriend. They are relieved when eventually she finds the perfect cat, "Gu Gu", whose antics and personality bring joy back to Asoko. Her love for Gu Gu and her friendships help her deal with new challenges. Takes place in the trendy Kichijoji area of Tokyo. This is a woman's movie with unique Japanese comedy elements. Fun but also sad. A goofy American English teacher at a local school is a sort of observer and commentator during the film has an unfortunate resemblance to Kenny G. A must see for cat lovers.
3 Reviews
A Nutshell Review: Gu Gu The Cat
DICK STEEL1 May 2009
I guess we've seen enough canine movies coming out from Japan, that it's now the turn for felines to get the spotlight. I would have half expected the plot to follow the usual formula, if not for the fact that Gu Gu the Cat actually became the side show of the plot, despite being the titular character, and worse, a replacement cat in fact.
Based on the novel by Yumiko Oshima, the story centers on Kojima (Kyoko Koizumi), a successful manga storyteller who suffers from a dearth of inspiration when her pet cat Ce Va dies of an illness suddenly, upon completion of her special edition masterpiece. Kojima lapses into depression, but she has her assistants and pals like Naomi (Juri Ueno) to thank in keeping her spirits up, especially when Kojima herself starts to find parallels between her own life, and that of her pet Ce Va. Then comes Gu Gu whom she adopts, and life may seem a little better given the antics of this cute cat.
However, this cat film, unlike the many dog ones out there, doesn't focus too much on the cat itself, unlike the love that man's best friend often get on screen. Perhaps cats find it unnatural to be performing in front of the camera unlike the dogs, though you can hear audible adoration of cuteness each time they turn on the charm in front of the camera. The filmmakers here know just what the best angles are, and the perfect situations to put the cats in for that all-too-familiar poses to have kids go into a frenzy harbouring hopes to get their own pet cat after the movie. But such scenes are few and far between.
I'm not too sure about the film being touted as a comedy, because I found it to be very much a tragedy for the most parts of the film. Losing one's inspirational compass in life is nothing to laugh about, or worse, choosing not to do anything about it. The mood is constantly morose, with Kojima brooding most of the time, and Naomi getting herself into some relationship complications. It's the story about these lead two characters and their friends (see if you can spot Miyuki Oshima from Handsome Suit), and less so about the cat, nor adopting the cat's point of view of events unravelling.
What I found a little irritating were the moments when this American English teacher Paul Weinberg (Marty Friedman) who appears as the narrator of sorts, breaking the fourth wall and goes into explanation mode, or even documentary styled prose, such as introducing some of the hot spots to visit in the city of Tokyo. The narrative thus became jarring each time he comes on, and while he has an important role to play given some revelation in the last act, it was still a little peculiar why that scene was included, because it gave the story an additional, needless direction into the third world, and was a little cheesy too in seeking some closure.
I suppose this film would only appeal to cat lovers, because for a dog person like me, this film didn't manage to convince me that a cat movie will work, nor did it raise my appreciation for the felines. If only a more compelling story would win me over otherwise, but perhaps it's more to do with the issues that the female of the species would be able to identify with a lot more, since the prerequisite illness in the tale was geared toward that.
Based on the novel by Yumiko Oshima, the story centers on Kojima (Kyoko Koizumi), a successful manga storyteller who suffers from a dearth of inspiration when her pet cat Ce Va dies of an illness suddenly, upon completion of her special edition masterpiece. Kojima lapses into depression, but she has her assistants and pals like Naomi (Juri Ueno) to thank in keeping her spirits up, especially when Kojima herself starts to find parallels between her own life, and that of her pet Ce Va. Then comes Gu Gu whom she adopts, and life may seem a little better given the antics of this cute cat.
However, this cat film, unlike the many dog ones out there, doesn't focus too much on the cat itself, unlike the love that man's best friend often get on screen. Perhaps cats find it unnatural to be performing in front of the camera unlike the dogs, though you can hear audible adoration of cuteness each time they turn on the charm in front of the camera. The filmmakers here know just what the best angles are, and the perfect situations to put the cats in for that all-too-familiar poses to have kids go into a frenzy harbouring hopes to get their own pet cat after the movie. But such scenes are few and far between.
I'm not too sure about the film being touted as a comedy, because I found it to be very much a tragedy for the most parts of the film. Losing one's inspirational compass in life is nothing to laugh about, or worse, choosing not to do anything about it. The mood is constantly morose, with Kojima brooding most of the time, and Naomi getting herself into some relationship complications. It's the story about these lead two characters and their friends (see if you can spot Miyuki Oshima from Handsome Suit), and less so about the cat, nor adopting the cat's point of view of events unravelling.
What I found a little irritating were the moments when this American English teacher Paul Weinberg (Marty Friedman) who appears as the narrator of sorts, breaking the fourth wall and goes into explanation mode, or even documentary styled prose, such as introducing some of the hot spots to visit in the city of Tokyo. The narrative thus became jarring each time he comes on, and while he has an important role to play given some revelation in the last act, it was still a little peculiar why that scene was included, because it gave the story an additional, needless direction into the third world, and was a little cheesy too in seeking some closure.
I suppose this film would only appeal to cat lovers, because for a dog person like me, this film didn't manage to convince me that a cat movie will work, nor did it raise my appreciation for the felines. If only a more compelling story would win me over otherwise, but perhaps it's more to do with the issues that the female of the species would be able to identify with a lot more, since the prerequisite illness in the tale was geared toward that.
Major misfire
sitenoise18 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
What on earth is Marty Friedman doing in this movie? First of all, this flick has very little to do with, and gives very little screen time to, cats. When the little felines do get a moment in the spotlight it is usually accompanied by some silly video game sound effects. To what end, I cannot fathom. Just like Marty Friedman. The ex-Megadeath guitarist plays an English teacher who has nothing to do with anything except looking like a cross between Kenny G and a beardless Harry Shearer as Derek Smalls in This is Spinal Tap. He acts as a narrator of sorts in the film and breaks the fourth wall when acting as a guide to various hot spots around the trendy Kichijoji neighborhood. Why he is doing any of this in the film, I don't know. Perhaps it is some sleight of hand trying to take our attention away from the three fat girls in the movie who serve no purpose except being the brunt of fat jokes. How lame is that? There is one sort of take-your-breath-away moment in the film when Suzuka Ohgo, who played the blue-eyed little girl in Memoirs of a Geisha, shows up as the human incarnation of the main character's dead cat. She is sitting in the shadows at a table for quite some time as if, since she is playing a dead cat, we are not going to ever see who she is or what she looks like. When the camera finally acknowledges her face ... oh my, the girl is maturing nicely. Beautiful smile.
I like Kyôko Koizumi quite a bit, and she does her best, although sullenly so, as the main character who gets depressed when her cat Ca Va (the one later played by Suzuka Ohgo) dies. Juri Ueno's character is much more appealing. She actually gives the film hope as she tries to cheer up Koizumi and the movie. Koizumi finally gets a new cat, Gu Gu, but then she gets cancer and blah blah blah.
This film is a real dud. It felt like the only people who might remotely enjoy the silly set piece antics would be the people who made the film. It comes off as an inside joke we are on the outside of. I'm a cat person and had high hopes for this film after absolutely loving the director's Josee, the Tiger and the Fish. But, nope. There's nothing here.
★
I like Kyôko Koizumi quite a bit, and she does her best, although sullenly so, as the main character who gets depressed when her cat Ca Va (the one later played by Suzuka Ohgo) dies. Juri Ueno's character is much more appealing. She actually gives the film hope as she tries to cheer up Koizumi and the movie. Koizumi finally gets a new cat, Gu Gu, but then she gets cancer and blah blah blah.
This film is a real dud. It felt like the only people who might remotely enjoy the silly set piece antics would be the people who made the film. It comes off as an inside joke we are on the outside of. I'm a cat person and had high hopes for this film after absolutely loving the director's Josee, the Tiger and the Fish. But, nope. There's nothing here.
★
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
