Review of Waterboys (2001) by Lau M — 04 Jul 2010
If you enjoy quirky Japanese culture, you will enjoy this film. It's got all the classic soft-pop, cutesy, feel-good comedic Japanese elements: a quirky group of high school students, an underdog's fight to make it to the top, boy meets girl, and ridiculous off the wall jokes.
The story starts with a young student and his band of friends preparing for their high school festival. The rag tag group of guys are on the swim team, but since they are all terrible at it their coach refuses to teach them.
In his place an energetic young teacher comes in to take over, but since she doesn't know anything about coaching a swim team, she decides to make a synchronized swim team instead. Soon after she suddenly realizes she's pregnant and has to take maternity leave, and the abandoned boys are left feeling even more hopeless.
Their leader Suzuki tries to raise their spirits, he is determined not to be a failure anymore. He finds himself enlisting the aid of a seaworld trainer who ends up giving them a Mr. Miyagi style instruction.
The awkward and cute antics are a lot of fun to watch. There are moments when the film moves along a little slowly, but overall there are a lot of good laughs and enough quirky humor to make anyone who feels like they are sinking, swim.
It's a feel good movie, that doesn't leave you feeling too drippy about seeing it.
This review of Waterboys (2001) was written by Lau M on 04 Jul 2010.
Waterboys has generally received very positive reviews.
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