Subtitled

A step in the wrong direction for Makoto Shinkai. So much so that the disappointing part about discussing this film is how likely impossible it is to not compare it to Your Name. Weathering With You does not have the same perfection of technical synthesis, nor the earned element of its ambiguous narrative that Your Name utilized to realistically explore human emotions in its fantastical melancholy. That film was a masterpiece because of all those components. Yes, Weathering With You is beautiful to look at, and the RADWIMPS score does its job (and is a fantastic work that deserves a better film). But is that enough? This film is proof that the medium of animation can’t carry an entire film to the finish line. It markets itself as a film for anime fans like myself who are moved by intriguing characters in various societal and/or existential dispositions, only it is inherently destined to find a home within the YA fiction crowd. It has an engaging first third leading to a rushed and shaky second, dropping off the audience at a tiring and jumbled last act as the final destination. And its changes in tone are jarring; when did this go from being its own thing, to suddenly (500) Days of Summer, to Good Time, to FLCL, and even to Your Name?

Shinkai’s films have challenged its reviewers by having them contemplate over how well he mixes style with substance, and whether or not his narrative pieces have become repetitive. Despite those critiques being this film’s fatal errors, the overall product has its merits. Characters come from places of raw isolation that leads them to become so intoxicated in the mysteriousness of Hina, the sunshine girl. It’s a series of growth and revelations that are visibly present despite being unfortunately one-note, while the romance is nearly unearned and hard to buy into. Still, despite being victims of the incredibly weak screenplay, the characters feel real and authentic, so the whole thing could’ve easily been way worse. I found myself entertained and sympathetic, yet cold and bored at the same time. Like that line in the film, ambivalence is no good for men. Or something like that.

I really like the way it looks, and how the characters play their parts with authenticity. And the film at least lets the film ponder over if we are better off finding love in this imperfect world, or sacrificing ourselves for its own betterment (based on what we are capable of). Then again, a film that has to explain other things to the audience as if we don’t understand them is one that I do not feel would be right to give pity points to just because it looks good (think about that exposition dump in the middle for fuck’s sake!). And those half-assed cameos from Your Name’s main characters is insulting for how unnecessary they are. The whole thing became exhausting after a while, and I would’ve seen myself out in the theater hall for a break if I wasn’t trapped in a half-full auditorium. For the elements I appreciated, this was an ambitious try for Shinkai that did not find its footing successfully. As cliche as I hate to come off as, this is one of those films that will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Don’t be surprised, because there’s plenty of that here.