Minnâ-yatteruka! (Getting Any?) (1995)

Before directing Takeshi Kitano was well known in Japan as one half of the incredibly popular stand up comedy duo 'The Two Beats'. Upon the disbanding of the duo Kitano moved on to more serious filmic ventures, creating a range of dark, nihilistic yakuza films between the years of 1989 and 1993. In 1995, however, following his suicide attempt Kitano returned to his "beat" roots, and released the slapstick comedy 'Getting Any?'. Received incredibly well in it's home country 'Getting Any' was the biggest success of Kitano's first 5 features. The plot follows Dankan, a social loser obsessed with the idea that if he is to have sex he must first own a car, as no woman can resist a man with a car. The narrative is incredibly episodic, with Dankan jumping from one ridiculous situation to another; in this sense the film feels like a feature length sketch show, with some of the jokes landing and others not. As the film continues it moves more and more into the realm of stupidity, leaving any semblance of character development and believability far behind. Dankan becomes an actor, a hit-man and half fly over the over-long 100 minute running time and, although never completely boring the film begins to feel tiresome as it nears its finale. Overall 'Getting Any?' is the weakest I've seen Kitano and puts an end to the director's spree of touching, brilliant cinema (which thankfully later returns). I'd only recommend this if you're a big Kitano fan.