satoshun-fab4

This film is based on a simple but impressive idea; what happens if there is a threatening football player in an office? In 3 or 4 minutes, the film lets office linebacker 'Terry Tate' run around all over the office. Although our eyes tend to be glued to Terry's powerful movement, if you turn your eyes to the others scolded by him, you may be aware that some of them show rather powerful and funny reactions. Their reactions are also vital elements for the film. As to the film's pace, a scene immediately turns to another scene, and it glues audiences to the screen. Film-makers substantiate the foolish idea with their serious face. For example, the CEO answers the interview seriously, saying that the productivity increases after Terry comes. In addition, other office workers take his running for granted, and they say hello to him even when he is scolding someone loudly. Let's watch Terry's activity.

What makes this film different from other films of time-travel, is that emphasis is put on the process to time-travel. In other words, while other time-travel movies begin with getting on time machines, the film starts at a different point and ends with getting on the machine. It is interesting that while the SF element is an important pillar of the movie, non-SF scenes take much longer time than it. The title 'Safety Not Guaranteed' doesn't give off SF color, but in terms of impression of titles, the Japanese title 'Kanojo-ha (She is) part-time-traveler' is different from the English one. Anyway, the story goes on and extends without mentioning the SF element. It may be said that the main part of the story is interaction between characters. What the film describes is not thrilling SF story but thrilling and warm human story. On the other hand, in the final part of the movie, the SF element comes out and it heightens audiences' feeling. Watch it and make sure whether the time-travel is done or not.

First, what is described under the cloudy sky of Kamakura, is a kind of chronic sadness beginning with the person who annoys the couple by doing a little thing. It makes an impressive contrast with the funny and cheerful behavior of the husband when on duty. It also makes a remarkable contrast when the scene turns from the cheerful to the sad one. Suddenly, in the daily life of couple having, there appears a boy, who is half-Japanese and half-Western. The boy gives something like warmth to the couple, and they gradually get back something lost in their life. Their interactions seem to express that. While the domestic atmosphere is getting better, news from radio is giving off threatening air and the anxiety is getting higher. Also in these scenes, some contrasts are created between the threatening situation and the innocent boy. See this film and make sure how the story ends.