Yellow Margarine

I only needed a handful of screencaps to realize that Akaike Ryoto's Yellow Margarine would be one of those films that pushes all the right buttons. Absurdist Japanese comedies are relatively easy to spot, and this one makes no effort whatsoever to hide its true nature. It can still be tricky to track these types of films down. They're not the most popular and God knows how many of them slip through the cracks, but I'm more than happy that I managed to find this one. And I can only hope it becomes popular enough for Ryoto to continue his career, because I need more of this.

It's impossible to describe what makes a film "typically Japanese", but that doesn't mean you can't spot it almost right away. The mix of absurdist comedy, crafty special effects, and cultural references is unmistakable in Yellow Margarine, I simply cannot think of any other country that would come up with something similar. It does limit the target audience of a film like this. It works best if you're familiar with specific cultural elements and if you gel with the type of humor on display. Then again, that's exactly what makes it stand out, so I'm not complaining.

The story is merely a hook for the comedy. It was smart then to go for a setup where the lives of several very different characters cross paths. It's the easiest way to allow for more sketch-like setups without turning things into an outright comedy show. The result is still a little random and unhinged, but because of the added freedom to insert whatever crazy idea Ryoto came up with, I think it's a fair trade-off that very few comedy fans will complain about. Narrative consistency has never been the number one priority of comedies.

In a small Japanese city, various people are trying to make sense of their lives. A middle-aged man has been craving the attention of a former idol, and he has finally mustered up the strength to approach her. The idol has been neglecting her child as she is trying to win the favor of a local actor. He is being stalked by a young woman who is jealous of all the attention he gets, but he is too occupied with making a name for himself. Meanwhile, a flower salesman is selling strange, fake flowers to the elderly, while maintaining a relationship with an odd-looking butterfly.

Akaike Ryoto had some crazy ideas and not a whole lot of budget to work with, so it's no surprise that the special effects are more functional than aesthetic. This being a core comedy, it's equally understandable that he chose a more goofy approach over a realistic one. How else are you going to bring a talking butterfly lady to life? The camera work is decent and some fun use of lighting and color brightens up the film, but it's not quite enough to hide Yellow Margarine's humble origins. Then again, it didn't bother me because it added to the comedy.

The score is probably the weakest part of the film. Not that it stands out by being annoying or low quality, it's just very expected and middle-of-the-road. The music is jolly and helps to set a lighter mood, but it does so in a very inconspicuous way, with melodies and tunes that feel like public domain works. It had to skip through the film again to check on the music, which is never a good sign. For a comedy, it's not the biggest deal. Music is rarely a deal breaker for the genre, though it squanders a bit of easy potential that could've helped to make things even funnier.

This type of comedy requires a very specific kind of acting style, again straying away from anything that remotely resembles realism. The brief was silly, goofy, and exaggerated, and the cast understood the assignment. Nobody is going to win any awards for their performances here, but pretty much everyone put in a spirited and energetic effort. Thanks to the wide array of characters, nobody needed to carry too much weight. Some silly costumes and props helped alleviate further pressure from the actors, so kudos to the entire cast.

With a film like Yellow Margarine, things are quite simple. Either you appreciate this style of absurdist comedy and you're set for a good 90 minutes of wonky fun, or you hate it and finishing it will be a pure test of patience and willpower. There is little narrative support, the comedy is singular, and the film is jumping from joke to joke with little in between. Yes, the various stories cross paths, and there is some kind of conclusion, but it doesn't add up to anything substantial. If you're after a film with a point, a purpose, lessons, or meaning, this won't be for you.

Kudos to Akaike Ryoto for being fully committed to making a film like Yellow Margarine. It's obviously a passion project that took more of his time and efforts than it will ever be able to return. It doesn't fully escape its low-budget roots, but it offers enough jokes and general weirdness to distract from that. The madcap plotlines, the silly characters, and a charming DIY approach result in a fun and surprising little comedy that amuses from start to finish. It's not the most accessible film, but if you like to embrace the absurd, recommending this one is a no-brainer.