Japan Review: Karthi does his best to save this shoddy action comedy but fails

Karthi, who was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan, has emerged as one of most promising Tamil actors in recent times. Meanwhile, director Raju Murugan has me some acclaimed films in past, like Joker and Cuckoo. Joker, in particular, received a lot of praise for its socio-political narrative and use of satire and tonal shifts to tell a relevant story. Despite fast-paced, mainstream trailer that Japan makers released, one expected something clever and ingenious with ir latest film. 

Hot Take

plot of Japan kicks off when a high-end jewellery shop is robbed. looters walk away with Rs 200 crore. However, stakes get higher when investigation reveals involvement of political big-wigs in heist. As police begin ir investigation, all fingers point to Japan (Karthi) notorious gold-robber in country. 

Does Japan live up to hype?

re were a lot of hopes from Japan, both after its flashy, exciting trailer and promising actor-director duo who have separately delivered some genuinely good work in past. However, Japan turns out to an underwhelming watch.

Standalone set pieces work better

As narrative unfolds, following both police investigation and topsy-turvy journey of Japan, who has just learned of something significant, re are many impressive elements in first half of film. Be it elaborate spoofy action sequence featuring Karthi in his two avatars or confusion around three state police departments fighting ir own little battles, Japan keeps us amused. 

We also get sequence capturing Japan’s philanthropist shenanigans in a drunken state. Even way film goes back to sweeper’s backstory, seamlessly integrating a sentimental sidetrack into a larky action-comedy work effectively. Japan’s god-fearing man-friday too makes hilarious interjections in that one graveyard stand-off. And Japan works well as long as it’s content with banking on se set-pieces.

It’s only when Japan tries to be cohesive and derive some sense of poetry from all its chaos that it falters - and a large portion of Japan is just that. One misstep after or until film finds itself completely derailed.

Japan completely details in second half 

Sanju’s character (played by Anu Emmanuel) is established with great intrigue, as we see hear stories about her from Japan who strays around in a caravan hoping to meet her again. We keep looking forward to big pay-off, significant way in which Japan’s relationship with Sanju les to a shift in his arc or narrative itself. However, Japan’s narrative abruptly drops off Sanju’s character, returning to heist investigation, making entire detour around Japan’s romantic obsession seem futile. It’s this exact lack of congruency that Japan lacks. Despite an occasional joke or two landing well, it falters in second half.

re is a little too much happening, which is not necessarily a flaw, but Japan refuses to settle with a tone. re is a difference between being chaotic and being all over place - Japan never lands on pleasant side of spectrum.

last interesting thing that happens in film is when Japan suspects a conspiracy ory by someone close. Once narrative makes clear identity of conspirator, re is nothing much left in film to keep us hooked. film only returns with some promise in its final act when we see Japan (Karthi) and scapegoat character sitting beside each or, not knowing where y will be in a few hours. re was clearly an intent of connecting lives of two flawed men who wanted to redeem mselves in some manner, both having wronged most important women in ir lives. 

Karthi is film’s biggest strength

Amidst all unravelling and confused tonality, one thing is clear - Japan needed an actor who is starry, and yet lightweight enough to be able to not take himself too seriously. Karthi perfectly fits bill and carries even film’s most dicey bits with ease. It’s his presence that helps film most. he makes it watchable and even savages it in its weakest moments. 

Watch it or skip it?

Karthi is best thing about Japan. Thankfully, film has a lot of him - and yet, sly, not enough to make it an enjoyable watch. 

Bottomline

Despite a few engaging and amusing bits, Japan really struggles to hold it toger. Unless you are a die-hard Karthi fan, it would be hard to watch film without flinching in your seat. 

Rating - 2/5 stars