Review by Marcie Gainer
Another Studio Ghibli film, MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS is a non-linear story about the routinely
chaotic life of a Japanese family living in 1999. Directed by the famous Isao Takahata
(GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES), there is
no solid story arc in MY NEIGHBORS THE
YAMADAS. Instead, it consists of short segments – episodes – about the
Yamadas and their everyday adventures. Some of the stories deal with rather
mundane topics but are interspersed with charming bits of comedy. Other
segments deal with heavier topics but also have subtle comedic undertones. Not
your typical anime film but it was fun. I also loved the spontaneous bursts
into song. The music was definitely a strong point.
The Yamadas are your typical family: the overworked, often
sarcastic father, the annoyed, not always compliant housewife, the idealistic
daughter, the resistant son, and the brash, nagging grandmother. In one story,
the family forgets the daughter, Nonoko, at the mall. In another, the
grandmother visits a friend who’s plagued with, what can be assumed, a terminal
illness. Each story is accompanied with a closing Haiku. A nice touch, really. After
each story, you’ll fall more and more in love with the Yamadas.
The animation is a bit wacky and it took me awhile to
adjust. Once I did, I realized that the animation was incredibly nuanced and
detailed. Overall, the film was charming and endearing. Though, I did find
myself struggling as the film was overly long and sometimes lagged. MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS is very fun
and will appeal to both adults and children. Many of the more subtle jokes and references
will resonate well with those who’ve experienced the chaos of ordinary family
life. If you’re interested in anime and Studio Ghibli, I wouldn’t miss this
one. I didn’t find it overly compelling and it’s certainly not as moving as
Takahata’s GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIESbut it’s solidly executed and enjoyable. 2 1/2 stars out of 4
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