Tonbi is a much better version of the try too hard Beautiful Rain. Its got half the number of tears and since half of it is by Uchino Masaaki so it never feels too cheesy. Not that Tonbi is not a cheesy feel good dorama but it works because the main story is set in the 70s. It has this more innocent age impression so its easier to buy into all the super nice people.
What I also like is that there is a hook to the dorama with Kenshin playing Uchino Masaaki's son in the present being in a similar situation to his dad, or is it? Something to keep me watching. I think its watchable but don't think it will be must watch for me because its still crying porn.
However, if you want to make a watchable crying porn, you put Uchino Masaaki in it. His portrayal of the simple minded Yasuo just carries this movie and makes the crying tolerable. He is just a hoot to watch. Watchable.
It's surprisingly funny. I'm expecting a sorta melodrama of tears, but what I remember is not the crying moment, it's the funny moment- let's all work hard for this low-paying job~. If that is not a jab to all the ganbare dorama out there, then, I don't what it is.
ReplyDeleteAnd the kids they chose weren't that coy, so it helps too.
Lol, I don't think Uchino Masaaki's character has got a sarcastic bone in his body.
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