krofire

Studio Blanc’s 2021 dark comedy disappoints for its ability to be so desperately unfunny despite clever and occasionally sophisticated writing. The setup is unique with the premise being the very adult concerns of a bunch of children’s TV show presenters.  Cynical Uramichi is a former college roommate of colleagues Tobikichi Usahara (who plays a rabbit) and Mitsuo Kumatani (who plays a bear). They are joined for the kiddie fun and games on screen by singers Iketeru Daga and former idol Utano Tadano. What they all have in common is an endless introspection for their sad, pointless little lives some of which spills over, on-screen, in front of the children. The kids themselves seem genuinely quite clued-up on the adult angst with typical refrain amongst them going along the lines of (adult presenter) “What do children have that adults do not?” (Child A) “A future!”, (Child B) “Hope!” and so on. Utano obsesses over not being married, yet being over thirty, whilst the main character is a former college athlete with a jaded outlook on life. Their show “Together with Maman” is directed by an unsympathetic sadist who makes the inappropriately-dressed team shoot summer shows in winter and vice versa. They all hate their lives and, what counts as a story results in them drowning their sorrows in alcohol. That’s it really. Despite the very occasionally laugh-out-loud funny moment the show is unremarkable and tedious. It is not like it is even trying to be funny. The main thrust of the show is its display of unhappy people in an environment where people are meant to be happy. They are a bunch of melancholy clowns. It really doesn’t go any deeper than this and is largely forgettable. Quite why it seems so popular is a mystery. We really wanted to like this show and on paper it looked original and promising. However, the timing is off and the scenario is nowhere near relatable to those outside show business (i.e., most of the audience) as the makers may have thought. A hate it or love kind of show. Our reaction: indifference.