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A job predicated on a simple snatch and grab for Lady Bug (played by Brad Pitt) becomes a wild ride from Tokyo through Kyoto as there’s more afoot on the Shinkansen, aka the Bullet Train.
Many summer movies, particularly in the action genre, are derided as “popcorn flicks,” and Bullet Train falls into this category. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being a popcorn flick (I have enjoyed more than one viewing of White House Down), especially if your elements work. And in Bullet Train, the important elements function with the speed and efficiency one would expect from their namesake.
Characters. While the film doesn’t do real names for the lead characters, instead using code names as monikers, most of the characters are interesting, breaking them from what could’ve been very archetypical. The highlights are definitely Lemon (played by Brian Tyree Henry) and Tangerine (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson), aka the twins. They have fantastic chemistry and banter. That is another strength of the film, the dialogue. Lemon is obsessed with Thomas & Friends (yes, Thomas the Tank Engine), Every time he goes on about it, profiling people based on the character types from the show, usually to Tangerine’s annoyance, was a masterclass in character while also laying down important plot information.
Most of the film’s action is supposed to take place in “real-time” as Lady Bug makes his way onto the bullet train and then the train journey. The film fudges the time it takes to make the journey between Tokyo and Kyoto because if it actually used real-time, the film would’ve probably needed an extra hour of running time. That said, the pacing felt like being on a bullet train.
For the best enjoyment of the film, there are some contrivances that you need to accept/let pass about the functioning of the train, most created for story reasons. Especially if you travelled on trains before, but most especially if you’ve travelled on trains in Japan. One of these is a train car decked out as a character for an animated show. While this provided an opportunity for the inclusion of one of Japan’s famous yuru-chara (mascots) on the train, as a general train car, it didn’t make much sense.
Speaking of other things that helped ground the film in its setting of Japan, look no further than the soundtrack. There were a couple of songs in the film that, although originally performed in English, we covered in Japanese and by Japanese artists. Most notably, “Holding Out for a Hero” by Miki Asakura. Someone I know loves the Japanese cast albums for Disney movies, so I was aware of this practice long before I visited Japan and heard Despacito for the first time in Japanese (I didn’t hear the Luis Fonsi/Daddy Yankee version until I got home). Unfortunately, my Japanese doesn’t extend beyond basic social niceties, so I can’t speak for how the lyrical translations match up. But vocally, I’ve never been disappointed, and I will be adding Miki Asakura’s cover to my playlist.
Bullet Train is based on a book by Kôtarô Isaka and was adapted for screen by Zak Olkewicz with David Leitch directing. It is currently in theatres.
Spoilers Ahead:
Bullet Train begins with a news report about a snake stolen from a zoo. So, based on Chekhov’s gun rules, you know the snake is coming back, and logically it’s going to end up on the train – snake on a train. The long-awaited sequel for fans of Snakes on a Plane.
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