Customer Reviews

Adrenaline Drive [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I want to make that clear - this is *not* a romantic comedy, or an action flick.

It's a comedy. There is a romantic connection between the two main characters. But this is not a romantic comedy.

What this is, is a comedic chase movie. And it's a friggin' good one. Our heroes are the hapless Japanese stereotypical main characters: Both weak willed, and without backbone. They find themselves in possession of the equivalent of several million dollars in Yakuza cash... stolen from a gang that they think has been wiped out.

"Think" is the key word in that sentence. Why? Because one man who refuses to die (no matter how hard anyone tries) and six Yakuza in training are left... and they're hot on our heroes' trail.

Not a perfect film, but one that you can watch again and again. I will warn you that if you're expecting pulse pounding excitement, you're barking up the wrong alley. This is first and foremost a comedy, and nothing else. Don't expect anything to blow up (I mean on screen, the explosion of the Yakuza headquarters takes place *offscreen*), don't expect shoot outs, and don't expect dramatic car chases either.

Expect just to see something funny.

'Adrenaline Drive' revolves around two young pushovers - Satoru, who delivers rental cars, and Shizuko, a shy nurse. Satoru's boss uses him as a scapegoat when they have a slight run-in with Kuroiwa, a sterotypical Yakuza thug, and Satoru is taken back to gang headquarters for slight torture and extortion. Another yakuza member mistakes Satoru for a new recruit, and he accidentally blows up the building (gas stoves, gotta watch out for them!). Shizuko hears the explosion while on a snack break, and, like the dutiful nurse she is, proceeds to help out the rescuers. One yakuza (Kuroiwa, of course) remains tentatively alive, and during the ambulance ride, he causes a wreck in an attempt to escape. Satoru and Shizuko escape, leaving Kuroiwa for dead, taking with them the cash from the yakuza stash.
Our unlikely heros are then forced to flee remaining gang members (after literally "laundering" the cash) and the first of many ridiculous chases ensues.

Simple plot, but the unexaggerated and sypathetic characters make this movie quite enjoyable. Even the yakuza members come across as understandable... though they are violent, no true intent to harm comes across. The interaction between Kuroiwa and the head nurse at Shizuko's hospital proves especially ludicrous. Overall, don't expect any philosophy from this film, just relax and enjoy...

Adrenaline Drive really is a great comedy. To some, the pace of the movie may be a bit too slow, but it really is worth it. The jokes and stunts in this piece of farce are fresh and will keep you smiling. The characters are highly entertaining and unlike some movies where you could care less about the main characters, Adrenaline Drive successfully portrays their characters in a way that makes you want them to succeed. The plot is basically this: Suzuki is a corporate worker who can't stand up to his boss and Shizuko is a shy, withdrawn nurse who wants a change in her life. Through a series of events including a fender bender, gas explosion, underwater ambulance chase and more, Suzuki and Shizuko are thrown together with a LOAD of yakuza (gangster) money. Their wacky and charming adventures ensue. This is a romantic comedy that will keep you hooked til the end. :D

If you stumbled into a gang war, met a beautiful girl, and uncovered a gangster's stash, what would you do? Take the yen and run! This fun comedy reminds me slightly of Guy Ritchie's films, but the main characters are a couple of young kids who just figure, it's time for the good guys to win. They are followed by a group of hapless teenage thugs who inspire more chuckles than fear, and the gangster himself, who they thought was dead. On the lam with the loot, the young couple grudgingly work together, and.....well, it IS a romantic comedy! Well acted, cleverly shot, wonderfully written, this film is a must-see!

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I saw this film, but the box cover was so excellant that I had to check it out. This is the first independent japaneese film that I've ever watched and I really liked it. Everything about the film is original from the writing, plot, characters, directing. The great thing about "adrenaline drive" is that you don't need to be japaneese to appreiciate it. The characters are very likable and you care what happens to them. Excellent film, worth renting or adding to your dvd collection.

Certain parts of Adrenaline Drive are gems, but the other parts leave you wondering where the pace dropped off to. It left me with the feeling that most of the story was just there to connect the good parts.

There were certainly great moments in the vein of Japanese comedy, i.e. the mind-boggling type that catches you on the blindside and leaves you gasping, wondering how they managed to sneak up on you.

However, this movie is basically a story about a guy and a girl, and their experiences while trying to get away with the Japanese Yakuza's dirty money. It'll definitely make you view money-laundering from a totally new perspective.

If you're looking for a movie instead of reading a book, this is a good "story-telling movie". There'll be hilarious moments where you'll be slapping your knees. You'll also be given a glimpse into the psyche of the Japanese. Being non-Japanese myself, it was quite an experience to see how they think (and how this is shaped by their culture), and how their thinking translates into action.

The breezy comedy caper "Adrenaline Drive" is a lightweight adventure from Japan. Like a fluffy cotton candy, this incredibly sweet treat is an enjoyable concoction--but it's not particularly filling in the long run. Don't get me wrong, I admired "Adrenaline Drive" and recommend it--but it's a film best approached with limited or no expectations. Part romance, part mob story, part road picture and all comedy--"Drive" has charm to spare and the more frantic the pace, the more frenetic the plotting, the more likely you are to just go with the flow. This pleasant little trifle had me smiling continuously as it became more and more absurd!

When sad sack Suzuki (Masanobu Ando) has a run in with a local gangster, it looks like his already meager livelihood is headed south. Through a fluke, or perhaps fate, an accident disables much of the gang and forces Suzuki to flee with a wad of mob money. A young nurse (Hikari Ishida) aids in his escape, and this meek duo takes to the road to avoid being pursued. The comically injured mob boss is hot on their heels, and a group of young punks (also affiliated with the mob) hope to beat their superior to the punch. The rest of the picture plays as a chase, with the some light romance, as the various parties collide into each other in increasingly convoluted ways.

Seriously, the charm of "Adrenaline Drive" rests with the laconic and likable Ando and the plucky Ishida. The film itself is situationally funny--I particularly loved a sequence where Ishida has her bag stolen after a romantic dinner gone awry--and the film has twists and turns to spare. But the real glue is provided from the lead characters. If you don't care for them, the film wouldn't work! And truthfully, it's hard not to like them. The film borrows many plot elements from other movies and even the surprise ending can be seen a mile away--but darn if you just don't care. "Adrenaline Drive" is a fun frolic. About 3 1/2 stars, this enjoyable lark is to be appreciated in the now--but may soon be forgotten. KGHarris, 10/10.

I was up late one night looking for something to watch on tv. This movie "Adrenaline Drive" was on. From the beginning of the film, I was pulled in. I am a huge fan of Asian cinema and collect them on dvd and blu-ray. My wife happens to be Asian and she also loves this film. This movie is a must-see subtle romantic comedy. It takes you right into a small town in Japan with a gentle and a rough side to it. The comedy in the film can range from subtle to laugh-out-loud. The characters in the film play their roles to the fullest. Some of the areas in the town remind me of the video game "Shenmue". Great little gem of a film. 10/10.

I first saw this at a Japanese film festival and after this I bought the DVD. It has some great characters. If you enjoy real characters (not fake Hollywood ones). Just try and leave your mainstream conditioning at the door.

"Adrenaline Drive," is not an action film, or a romantic comedy, but just a humorous Japanese comedy. The films narrative centers around a shy rental car worker named Satoru Suzuki (Masanobu Ando) and a very shy nurse named Shizuko Sato (Hikari Ishida). Their lives will intersect when Satoru is taken away by a yakuza thug named Kuroiwa (Yatuka Matsushige). When Satoru is taken to a yakuza hangout for intimidation and torture, he is mistaken as a new recruit by another yakuza thug, who winds up blowing up the place. However, Kuroiwa will survive the blast.

Shizuko, being the dutiful nurse rushes to the scene of the explosion to assist the injured. As the ambulance takes the survivors to a hospital, Satoru, along with the nurse Shizuko take off, thinking that the angry Kuroiwa is dead. However, in their escape they take the yakuza's money. [Not a good idea]. Meanwhile, six of the yakuza who are in training go after both of them. This is not an action film, so don't expect shootouts or explosions throughout the film and you will not be disappointed: Just kick back and enjoy a pleasantly entertaining Japanese comedy.

I thought "Adrenaline Drive," was a fun and relaxing comedy. I have been trying to build a more steady collection of Japanese comedies over the years and I happened to enjoy this one. Most of my Japanese films consist of drama, mystery, horror, samurai, and old classics. Therefore, I have been trying to add more comedies over the years. This film will appeal to some viewers and not others. Depending on what you like in a comedy. I find comedy to be one of those genres where everyone has different tastes in what is funny. Therefore, I recommend you rent the film first to see if it appeals to you. But I enjoyed the film and own it. [As with every other film I review].

Also, for those of you who like Japanese comedies, I would like to highly recommend two comedies by director Shinobu Yaguchi, which are not listed on amazon. The first one is a dark comedy called "Down The Drain," (1993) the Japanese title of this film is ["Hadashi no pikunikku"] it is hilariously funny. The other one is titled "Waterboys," (2001). Which is a very funny film. If you can, try and purchase or rent these two films, they are truly funny films. I find myself laughing hysterically to the film 'Down The Drain' whenever I watch it, and the lighthearted comedic themes in 'Waterboys' is very funny. I would have done a review of both of them, however, as I wrote above, they are not listed on amazon.