This is a tale of high school romances which focuses on a girl stuck in a same rainy-day time-loop featuring an abundance of precipitation, a petite clock "tower" that is repeatedly victimized by lightening strikes, and a hit and run truck driver who keeps targeting the girl's boy friend at night and, of course, in the rain. You likely have seen most/all of this movie before. Think GROUND HOG DAY(1993) meets BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985) and typical chick flick plotting plus a plethora of well known Japanese movie staging and settings. High schoolers are played by lead actors who appear to have left their own high school days far behind. Direction suffers from a lack of originality and energy. It also fails to elicit much in the way of chemistry between players or empathy between on-screen characters and viewers. The film is way too long and the screen play is end-to-end dull, sophomoric, and, well, drippy. Lead actress is burdened with dialog often consisting of variations on "eh?"; other actors don't have much to work with either. Lines in the closing scenes (which can't come soon enough!) consist of well worn platitudes and less than insightful (or original) observations on - wait for it - the purpose and meaning of life (as we think we know it). The hit and run events are critical to the story line, but these scenes are never shown on camera (a victim of a tight budget?). Cinematography is workman like and generic; it lacks creativity. Lighting is fine. Special effects (lightening flashes and strikes, blue skies, etc.) are okay. Subtitles are close enough. Closing credit music is a bit jarring and seems out of place. Pretty much an all-wet film. Not recommended except for countering insomnia. Viewed at a JICC virtual J-film event. WILLIAM FLANIGAN.
Review of The Blue Skies at Your Feet
