Storyline
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.
Cast & Crew
Ryu Morioka
Kenji Sanemichi
Lead
Tomoya Maeno
Kazuya Unno
Haru Kuroki
Natsumi Takahashi
Hirofumi Arai
Takuma Kurosawa
Mari Yamachi
Hinako Kurosawa
HO
Hako Oshima
Kaoru Murata
KK
Kenta Kunai
Tairo Murata
JH
Jyo Hyuga
—
What People Are Saying
0.0
“A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Kensaku Watanabe's vision lands with breathtaking precision.”
3.0
“Every frame feels alive. Emi-Abi is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.”
