Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageWaterboys (2001)
Director: Shinobu Yaguchi
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Nice idea: the hopeless swimmers of Tadano High put themselves through hell to become Japan's first male synchronised swimming team in order to fulfil the dream of their coach, even though she's away having a baby. Sadly, the film itself is not so great. Yaguchi's previous, smaller movies didn't strain for humour, but this big ensemble comedy tries much too hard. Yaguchi constantly goes for live-action cartoon-style visual gags and botches the tone or timing of most of them. Worse, he was obviously unable to control Takenaka, who plays an aquarium owner with such 'brio' that the film becomes unwatchable whenever he's on. And the handling of a gay subplot, although very PC, is so perfunctory that it simply isn't funny. Still, the boys are cute and the show they finally manage to put on is quite something.Author: TR
Cast & crew
Director: Shinobu Yaguchi
Producer: Akifumi Takuma, Daisuke Sekiguchi
Cast: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Naoto Takenaka, Kaori Manabe, Akira Emoto, Hiroshi Tamaki, Akifumi Miura, Kondo Kuen full cast
Duration: 91 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
What do you think?
Post your review now