"What in the
name of Jehovah’s ghost is this?" I cried, adjusting my pince-nez and
applying a savage kick to the rump of the lackey unfortunate enough to
have delivered the parcel. "The Web Wombat administrators must have
mistaken me for a nine year old girl".
Said lackey merely nodded,
before retiring to his post in the dimly-lit scullery.
As I was a little too old (and the wrong gender) for Tamagotchi
first time around, and am now a 27 year old with no children and a
penchant for Steven Seagal films, I could not be more woefully unsuited
to reviewing this particular film.
Furthermore was I to
watch it in anything approaching its entirety I could never again look
my girlfriend, let alone myself, in the eye. That being said, I am a
professional.
Did I watch the whole thing? No. I glanced at it. I flicked though it.
I
watched a couple of scenes, then went and drank some milk straight out
of the carton while listening to Pantera. Masculinity thus reasserted,
I then sat down to write this review.
Known in English by the somewhat truncated title above (it was released to cinemas in Japan as Eiga de Tojo! Tamagotchi Dokidoki! Uchu no Maigotchi!? which evidently translates as Appearing on Film: Tamagotchi – Lost Child in Space!?) this animated feature marks the first full-length outing in the Tamagotchi franchise.
Having
made a somewhat belated appearance on DVD in Australia in March 2009,
the story opens on Tamagotchi Planet, where the brilliant young
inventor Mametchi has just created a Transporter Machine.
During
its initial trial run his clumsy pal Kuchipatchi manages to throw the
device’s aim off course and a young child from Earth, Tanpopo, ends up
being transported to the realm of the Tamagotchi.
The little
girl is thrilled to find out that all her favourite Tamagotchi
characters actually exist, and during the course of trying to find her
way back home has a number of adventures with Mametchi and his friends
on their vibrant and colourful home planet.
Is Tamagotchi: The Movie a good film? I don’t know. I think so. I’m not a nine year old girl.
It’s
colourful, wholesome and Japanese, which is as sure a predictor of
success as any in the realm of animated entertainment.
The
storyline is entertaining, the dialogue humorous and the
toys-come-to-life all of the super-cute variety. Furthermore the
animation is world class and the voicework on the English-language dub
is excellent, with newcomer Megan Harvey doing a fine job as Tanpopo
and experienced voice actress Stephanie Sheh hilarious as the talented
and excitable Mametchi.
Whilst lacking the broad appeal of the
Studio Ghibli releases, the film is nonetheless a fun and lively
addition to the world of animated Japanese cinema that will delight
younger children, regardless of whether they were previously familiar
with the world of these popular digital pets.
As for me, I think I need to go and cut down a tree or drink a beer or something. DVD Special Features
A Tamagotchi promo and trailers for numerous other G-rated efforts such as Cow & Chicken, Asterix and Dogstar plus Angela Anaconda and Tales of the Riverbank.
Conclusion:
Movie: 92% (if you’re a young child, 2% if you’re a 27 year old male who doesn’t have children).
Extras: 7%
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