Slapstick Siblings (Manzai gyangu)

A Kadokawa Pictures production. (Worldwide sales: Kadokawa Pictures, Tokyo, japan.) Created by Shigeo Minakami. Directed, compiled by Hiroshi Shinagawa.With: Ryuta Sato, Yusuke Kamiji, Satomi Ishihara, Yuji Ayabe, Daisuke Miyagawa, Hirofumi Arai, Seiki Nagahara, Ryuji Akiyama, Takashi Sasano, Miyuki Oshima.The on the face separate mobile phone industry's of street crime and standup comedy intertwine in Hiroshi Shinagawa's engaging sophomore effort, "Slapstick Siblings." Following his hit adaptation of their own manga smash "Drop," author-comedian-cum-helmer Shinagawa develops his first film's youthful-gangland milieu but adds a selfish comedian who will not develop. More amusing for Japanese auds compared to subtitle visitors, pic nonetheless comes with an appealing wit, garnished having a mature knowledge. Although no headliner, "Slapstick Siblings" would be a steady local artist last March, generating a decent $8.7 million. Its audience-award win at Korea's PiFan fest indicates possibilities for wider pan-Asian success. Standup comedian Tobio (Ryuta Sato) discovers that his partner, Tamotsu (Yuji Ayabe), is walking from their double act after ten years. A weight drunken spree, Tobio energizes next morning inside a prison cell with dreadlocked, inked, wise-mouthed youthful hoodlum Ryuhei (Yusuke Kamiji). Always the opportunist, straightlaced Tobio recognizes Ryuhei's aggressive -- and funny -- street talk is an ideal fit for that jousting Japanese comedy style referred to as "manzai." Though much more comfortable dealing with his fists than his mouth, Ryuhei concurs being trained like a comic. About the outdoors, Ryuhei's gangland enemy Shirokawa (Hirofumi Arai) will not allow the fledgling comedian leave without settling a couple of scores first. Simultaneously, Tobio finds out that training a novice -- particularly one as volatile as his new charge -- might not be a laughing matter. Shinagawa's script masterfully weaves together the comic and also the criminal, exhibiting a convincing knowledge of both mobile phone industry's. The helmer keeps a company hands, always praising his story and staying away from the most popular J-comedy pitfall of unraveling into chaos within the final reels. Fight moments, orchestrated by Yuta Morokaji, possess a dynamic edge, as the helmer balances the comedy and dramatic moments to ensure that neither side is really a continue the narrative tempos. Kamiji is supportive and powerful because the punk prepared to leave the violence from the near-pointless turf wars. Inside a more realistic vein, Sato is proficient using the somewhat harder role of the guy faced with less spectacular personal weak points. Embodying the pic's mixture of comedy and crime, Daisuke Miyagawa is droll because the jaded yakuza encouraging of Ryuhei's change of career. Tech credits are solid.Camera (color, HD), Nobuyasu Kita editor, Hiroshi Sunaga music, Toru Wada art director, Naoki Soma seem (Dolby Digital), Hiroshi Tsurumaki action director, Yuta Morokaji. Examined on DVD, Bucheon, Columbia, This summer 17, 2011. (In PiFan Film Festival -- Puchon Choice, competing.) Running time: 137 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com