Going to this film was a gamble for us. Unfortunately, it was a gamble that didn’t pay off. We’re generally fans of Japanese cinema and television, everything from Kawasaki masterpieces to taiga dramas and TV serials. Cast Me If You Can was accurately billed as a romantic comedy. It’s just not a good one.

Director Atsushi Ogata was there for Q&A and explained the genesis of this film. He’s obviously a talented guy, and he pulled together an impressive cast including some of Japan’s most popular actors. But Ogata gets very poor performances from the cast.  It’s just a very weak script, painfully awkward pacing and aimless direction that make for a rather boring 97 minutes. Ogata’s previous films are all shorts, and this one feels like it should have been a short as well.

If you’re not a fan of Japanese TV, stay away. Even if you like JTV, I’d still say skip it, but keep your eye out for better films from Ogata in the future.