3 out of 5

Director: Hitoshi Matsumoto

Well-shot and acted with the special effects doing just enough to bring the general weirdness of kaiju to a new level, Big Man Japan is an entertaining 113 minutes of mockumentary that either couldve been hilarious or oddly affecting but doesnt quite hit high marks in either territory. Daisato is Big Man Japan a government employed hero who gets really big and strong when shocked with enough electricity and then goes to work on equally giant monsters attacking the area. The spin on this is to take a look at what Daisato does in his down time, as one cant always be big and beat up monsters. The affects his job places on his social life and mentality – as well as more insight into his family history, and the effects of his battles upon the public – is the source of the films insight and comedy. But for every potentially hilarious situation you get some social commentary, and then this social commentary is not ridiculous enough to throw the movie into satisfying satire (…I know, I know, its about giant battling monsters, but whatever). On the flip side, when moments get potentially reflective (talking about Daisatos family), the interviewer offers up something insulting and jokey and it gets de-railed. Im a big fan of pervasive movies that dont let you call it firmly one thing, but Big Man Japan doesnt use this properly, rather seeming like a film that had a funny concept that was never fully developed. And the ending gives the impression that its all supposed to be overkill satire… so, hm. Worth a re-watch with different expectations.