Asian Film Festival of Dallas 2010

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“It must be the samurai blood in her.”

Animated features that are both intimate and suspenseful are hard to come by, and Mamoru Hosoda’s SUMMER WARS handsomely fills a gap that has existed for too long.  A science-fiction thriller with a sweet-natured extended-family drama at its core, the film makes a good argument for close-knit relationships and an awareness of technology’s distortable flaws.

Kenji is an eleventh-grade math genius.  He works with his best friend providing security for OZ, a sort of super-internet playground where business, commerce and fun all co-mingle in a psychedelic playground populated by cartoonish avatars.  But as Summer begins, Natsuki, the most popular girl in school asks Kenji to act as her boyfriend for a critical family gathering to celebrate her grandmother’s 90th birthday.

Natsuki’s family is large and colorful, from the baseball star to the local cop and an ousted cousin that Natsuki dotes on.  During the first night, Kenji responds to what he assumes is a Math Olympiad equation through OZ.  His answer sets in motion a global crisis that can only be resolved with the help of everyone at Natsuki’s home.  And with all their attempts to save the world, will there be time to fall in love?

Fun, richly detailed and family-friendly, SUMMER WARS is a terrific way to spend a hot afternoon at the movies.

Director

Mamoru Hosoda

Country

Japan

Language

English Subtitles, Japanese

Alternate Titles

サマーウォーズ, Samā Wōzu

Release Date

2009

Runtime

114 minutes

Exhibition Format

Digibeta