This was a bit of a surprise for me as I was unaware of the Japanese samurai action/comedy genre which is where Samurai Vagabond seems to fit in and, although I'm more of a purist for either form on their own I was willing to give this a go. Two Tokugawa lords are up for the open shogun job but wanting a final taste of freedom team up to escape their castles and retainers and hit the road, eventually ending up in the rough and tumble world of early 18th Century tabloid journalism.

Unfortunately Tadashi Sawashima, a prolific, if unremarkable, director fails to deliver on either the action or the comedy. The whole thing is really let down by an overly broad and severely underwritten screenplay. The 'comedy' is of the late period Jerry Lewis by way of third season Gilligan's Island variety, in other words, painful to watch. Action is chaotic and lightly rehearsed and while the leads are all pleasant enough the script requires more than the awful choices they've taken with their roles. It's too bad, it's an interesting story that was more deserving of better staging and writing. Bonus points for beautiful studio based art direction though.

Japanese cinema is celebrated for its refined minimalist dramas and avant-garde experimentation; it also introduced popular genres like jidaigeki (samurai epics), kaiju, and anime. Across both high art and mass entertainment, it often explores morality, impermanence, and the pressures of modern life.

Hidetoshi Nishijima and Tôko Miura in Drive My Car (2021)

The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Hibari Misora, Katsuo Nakamura, and Kinnosuke Nakamura in Tonosama - Yaji kita (1960)

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Tonosama - Yaji kita

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