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Movie Info & Details
Release Year2016
Runtime1h 28m
LanguageJapanese
CertificationNR
GenresDrama, Comedy
Votes—
DirectorKensaku Watanabe
WritersKensaku Watanabe
TypeFeature Film
Rating0.0 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsEmi-Abi
About Emi-Abi
Up-and-coming manzai stand-up comedy duo Emi-Abi has lost consummate funny man Unno (a surprisingly touching Tomoya Maeno) to an accident, leaving conceited straight man Jitsudo (Ryu Morioka) to contend with his diminished career prospects as a bland, pretty face entertainer. Guided by his manager Natsumi (Haru Kuroki), who demonstrates stronger comedy chops than her own star, Jitsudo comes to learn the circumstances of his friend's passing, as well as the life-and-death stakes of a career in comedy. Demonstrating a careful balance of tone across tragedy and deadpan and gross-out humor, writer/director Kensaku Watanabe expands "Emi-Abi"'s hilarious premise into a strikingly assured meditation on artistic rivalry and self-actualization.
Directed by Kensaku Watanabe, Emi-Abi leans on a strong ensemble — Ryu Morioka, Tomoya Maeno, Haru Kuroki — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2016.
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