People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan

Whilst the plot is very predictable, People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan is still a great mockumentary that's really funny and heartwarming whilst also being very accessible to newcomers. Allan Mustafa, Hugo Chegwin, Asim Chaudhry, Steve Stamp, Dan Sylvester Woolford and Lily Brazier are all incredible. Jack Clough's direction is great, it's well filmed and well paced. The majority of the jokes land and work extremely well and the soundtrack is fantastic.

It's about time that a series translated to a movie very very well, if you like the series you will definitely like the movie. It's a classic beginning, middle an end (un-original) but the way the movie is composed is very original. This is not a movie To watch if you want to be kept guessing until the end. But the way the movie takes you on a journey will keep you guessing. After watching this I sat back and the first thing I thought of was that was crazy. Also a few laugh out loud moments. The stayed true to the series very well. Not going to be in your top movies of all time but will certainly be a movie that you can watch and not feel like you've saved your time. Hopefully there will be a number 2.

I've never actually seen the TV series so I went into this film pretty much blind, I'd seen the trailer and thought it seemed pretty up my street. I was exactly right, perfect British humour with hilarious moments that lead to just an enjoyable film. The writing in this is so good and the jokes and cringe moments work so well. I like the sort of documentary style of filming this has, I think it works so well with the characters and the way they present themselves. Being from England myself there were so many British tropes and jokes in this that really made me laugh. I haven't laughed this much in a film for a long time. Nothing much to really say about this film other than go and see it if your looking for a funny new film to see. Hilarious!

Having experience in both UK music culture and Tokyo life this film isn't as far off the mark as some people seem to think it is.

The Tokyo locations, mostly Shinjuku and easily recognisable to locals are well chosen, the language and culture barrier details are multilayered and well observed, and not done in a way to be actually stereotypical or derogatory.

The music industry is heavily managed in Japan, and image can be meticulously sculpted, just like in the US/UK manufactured pop scene.

Faded and fallen acts can have surprise success in Japan, - 90s wash outs Kula shaker playing festivals just a few years back!!, and that success is often devoid of it's original scene context, ie Japan will like mohawked punk without knowing about thatcher govt and the social and political scene that created it, they just like the look and sound of it and enjoy it on that level.

So this film got all of that right and delivered it with good humor, although it did cherry pick its cultural points specifically to forward the story, so practically none of the amazing positive things about Tokyo were shown; it's vibrancy, respect, deep culture and history, generous and deeply funny and fun people, self aware, smart, creative, that stuff doesn't really get much of a look in here, but that's fine, it's not the story they're telling.

So too it gets the deluded low level musicians of the electronic music scene. So many clever details (why have I got a guitar in my hand??), only got 2 songs, Beatles etc, And then the social commentary is great.

"I've never received a salary in my whole life".

"I didn't enjoy it, but I loved it" "It tastes normal" etc

A lot of this rings true and is pretty funny.

I know the Japan portrayed is supposed to play on that trope "oh those crazy japs " etc but, it's not that crazy when you live amongst it.

PJDN is the best TV comedy of the last decade.

It's incredibly difficult to transition a show to the big screen and I thought they did a really good job of it. Having seen it now it makes sense WHY they did another chapter as a movie.

Some have said they were just happy to see them again and I think that sentiment is really on point. Having another chapter and having it being bold enough to add what they did should be commended.

I really dislike 'purists' for TV shows who will try and show they are the real fan or something by saying that it was only good in the beginning.

It must be very difficult to keep things fresh and move things along. That can't be done by just staying the same, and so do you want more than the first series or would you rather repeatedly watch the first minute of the first episode?

I was sceptical about the attempt at a film but was never going to just bash what they tried. I expected a certain amount of enjoyment from it whatever it was like and I got that. It could definitely have been worse.

I laughed quite a lot, and was never bored as the story flowed.

I wasn't disappointed by the ending and them not performing at the concert. It was GOOD that Grindah doesn't sell-out, and that they eventually keep it real by simply performing the track among themselves together and happily.

They went on a journey (not just literally) and ended up who they really are.

Chabuddy was not quite right in it and his usually hilarious character didn't quite work for me and it felt like he had become a bit of a caricature.

I am not criticising though as obviously he had to be in it and it had to be ridiculous that he was there with no actual purpose. I get it, but it's where the film does suffer a bit.

Overall a worthy addition and just nice to have had something more that could never be accused of being the same thing as the series all over again.

Some fans will definitely love it and that means it's a success, some will be purists and hate it but who cares, and others will have a balanced perspective and ultimately appreciate it regardless of any flaws to nitpick in either the concept or the content.