Directed by Nishimura Yoshihiro
Starring: Motomiya Yasukaze, Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, Kazuyoshi Ozawa
Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes
Available digitally and on disc January 25 (UK only)

by Victoria Potenza, Outreach Manager, Advocacy

Well one thing is for sure, I have never seen anything quite like Tokyo Dragon Chef. This action, food, adventure musical is one of the most unique films I have seen in quite some time. Unfortunately, it is hard to say how good this film is, but part of that could be due to my own cultural blindspots. Even though I have somewhat of an understanding of Japanese culture it felt like I needed to research certain aspects of the film essential to its plot. That being said, if you love ramen and want to watch people sing and dance about their love of the noodle soup dish, this may be the film for you. 

After being released from prison, retired yakuza member Ryu and his brother Tatsu must make plans for their second chance.  With the yakuza presence less influential in their lives, they do not have much of their old life to go back to. Luckily, Ryu has become an amazing chef during his time in prison so they decide to open a ramen restaurant which quickly becomes a sensation. However, problems arise when their yakuza rivals Jin and Kazu have the same idea. They battle it out to be the best new ramen restaurant unaware that there is another more sinister presence looking to take all of them out . 

Now, first and foremost who doesn't love a food movie? It is so easy to be taken away by people preparing the most amazing looking food. That is the main hook for Tokyo Dragon Chef whether it be the ramen, sushi, or fried chicken, it all looks incredible. It is best not to watch on an empty stomach and it may inspire you to order or prepare some of this good-looking food yourself. For how strange this film is, it does get down to the fact that good food can bring us all together. Even if you find yourself disengaged from some of the plot elements the food always brings you right back in. 

So much of the film was bizarre from the beginning and it felt like it had the potential to be an absurdist comedy in the veins of beloved 2018 Brazilian release Diamantino. While it does not seem Tokyo Dragon Chef holds up as well as that film, there are plenty of entertaining elements of the film including several ramen themed dance numbers, a sentient Buddhist tattoo, and an army of eyeball-masked henchmen. Had there been more heart to the film, the cheap effects may have come off as charming but in the end it all feels too weird. 

One can only assume that director Nishimura Yoshihiro has something up his sleeve with this weird narrative as he has an impressive array of films on his resume. He has directed several  interesting genre films like Mutant Girl Squad, Tokyo Gore Police and the “Z” segment of the ABCs of Death anthology. He also has an extensive history working on the special effects and makeup in even more films, including Shin Godzilla, a favorite in our household. 

The film does have interesting themes central to the plot for the audience to resonate with. The film circles around this idea of the old and the young battling it out for relevance. As the yakuza influence dies, there are younger sects of gangsters looking to pick up the mantle. The film's main antagonist believes the young must eat the old and finds little to learn from his elders. It is an interesting idea and something that seems relevant both to Japan and many cultures. They are interesting ideas and this reviewer wishes they were a little more flushed out. Since the film is also about these men being released from prison and trying to build up their life, it would have been interesting to focus more on those challenges and rewards. 

Had the film leaned into more of its strengths it would have been a win for me. The food elements and the relationships between the main characters have aspects of being really lovely and heartwarming but it takes less time establishing these relationships and doubles down on its weird musical numbers. The characters are great and with a little more time or more emotional moments with them, it could have made them truly lovable. 

There are many interesting elements to this weird little movie and although I do not think it worked for me as much as I would have liked, I’m sure there is a decent amount for others to love.