16 Aug Baby Assassins Review

BABY ASSASSINS

dir. Yugo Sakamoto, starring Saori Izawa, Yukina Fukushima, and Masayuki Ino

Upon graduation, highly trained teenage assassins Chisato and Mahiro are informed by upper management that they will need to hold down “normal” jobs as a cover, and—even worse—they’ll be forced to share an apartment. However, after an unfortunate run-in with a Yakuza member, the two must band together to survive an epic fight for their lives.

On its surface, Baby Assassins can be viewed as an action comedy focused on the hijinks of two people still new to the occupation. Chisato and Mahiro’s back-and-forth as both roommates and professionals make for some great dialogue and creates the ingredients for outlandish, over the top situations. It can also be seen as a movie that explores the relationship between two people comfortable with who they are and the power of platonic friendships. The Yakuza (along with the Triads still remaining as some of the great antagonists in storytelling) are almost an afterthought here; with so much focus on our young sociopaths, the villains of the narrative are completely underbaked and underserved, not becoming any sort of real threat or factor until the movie’s third act. Featuring Masanori Mimoto as the daughter of a Yakuza member, the actress plays a smaller role as a woman attempting to break through a man’s world and claim her own. While there’s plenty there that could be explored, writer/director Yugo Sakamoto opts instead to lean into the humor of playing Mimoto against her older brother, much to the amusement of their otherwise dangerous father.

Starring Mone Akitani as Chisato and Saori Izawa as Mahrio, the pair of assassins blend like oil and water. Fortunately, the actresses themselves go together like peanut butter and jelly as they bicker, argue, and support each other throughout the film’s runtime. Saori Izawa carries the heavier role as Mahiro, the severe introvert who struggles to connect with people. Izawa is excellent in the role: quiet and withdrawn at all times while still finding ways to be charming in her own way. On the opposite end of the scale is Yukina Fukushima, the bubbly, outgoing extrovert willing to make friends with almost any and everyone. Fukushima is almost too much in the way of her exuberant energy, and the actress rides the line at times between being overly cheerful and grating.

Written and directed by Yugo Sakamoto, Baby Assassins continues the director’s examination of the assassin culture previously explored in 2021’s A Janitor. Whereas A Janitor is a focused drama, Sakamoto takes a lighter approach in Baby Assassins, choosing instead to center his story on a pair of recently graduated high schoolers. Far lighter in tone but still respectful to the characters that inhabit the world, Sakamoto manages to find a deft balance of comedy and action, enough to keep the viewers intrigued and amused. With cinematographer Moritada Iju, Sakamoto crafts a a world both realistic and slightly cartoonish, giving Sakamoto the ability to create a world that isn’t exactly like ours, but tweaked just enough that it could be the one next door. Sakomoto’s real strength is in his writing and handling of the characters; Chisato’s personal growth set amidst Mahiro’s refusal to be anything than what she is make for some wonderful interactions between the two and are the film’s heart and soul.

Overall, Baby Assassins is a fun, well-paced ride through a world of sociopaths, killers, and gangsters. Yugo Sakamoto’s direction brings an entertaining vibrancy and dynamo to the screen, imbuing the characters with their own unique charm. Mone Akitani and Yukina Fukushima feed off each other’s energy, making for a delightful pairing of protagonists resulting in a modern reimagining of the odd couple. At a scant 95 minutes, the movie zips by and while the comedy aspects are hit and miss at times, the action set pieces provide the movie with the necessary jolt of adrenaline. Baby Assassins is available on digital, Blu-ray, and DVD on August 16th from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Review by Darryl Mansel