Aside from possibly New York City, Tokyo may be the most dangerous place in the cinematic world. From dangerous kaiju to alien invaders, the Japanese city is under constant attack. Suzume is a seventeen year old student who meets a young man who simply states he is looking for a door. She soon must travel around Japan, closing portals to prevent complete destruction.
The beautiful animation stands out immediately. Bodies of water look especially good as droplets of water shimmers in natural light. Suzume is filled with vivid colors and the backdrops often overshadow the characters. The stand out work is with Souta. Suzume’s potential love interest spends much of the film as a three legged chair. The animation is somehow able to make his stilted movements look expressive.
It is a wacky idea that allows for some silly moments. Ironically, there is also a sameness to Suzume that prevents it from truly standing out. There is a familiarity to many of its characters and biggest moments that can be distracting. While this never takes away from what is a moving story, it also makes it impossible to not compare writer-director Makoto Shinkai’s latest release to his previous output.
That being said, it is a beautifully told tale. It takes a while to get going, but once it does, the writing grabs audiences. Themes of regret, dealing with the past, and finding love are all a part of Suzume. There is a lot to take in – sometimes, too much – but when everything comes together, it is a breathtaking experience.
An argument can be made that this is one of Shinkai’s better stories. Where most movies try their hardest to remove cell phones, Suzume uses modern technology realistically. It is an ever-present part of the film, but never feels overdone. Even though things can get zany, the supernatural elements also add a horror element.
The end result is a visually stunning watch that will probably impress those who have never seen a Makoto Shinkai film. Even those who are familiar with his filmography will enjoy it. Still, there is a derivative aspect to Suzume that will end up disappointing some.
Suzume opens theatrically April 14
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