Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2014

When it comes to entertainment, Japan is huge on franchises. The all-time leader is Otoka wa Tsurai yo (It’s Tough Being a Man) with 48 feature films, a TV series and an animated run. There are dozens more, all with their roots in manga, giving them a built-in audience before they bounce between TV and film, or whatever form the producers choose to express it in. The Trick comedy-drama empire made its first appearance on the small screen in 2000 after it was created by talented auteur Yukihiko Tsutsumi, now a leading filmmaker. Trick is his baby, having already enjoyed three seasons, two TV specials and three films. The story centers on failed magician Naoko (Yukie Nakama) and arrogant physicist Jiro (Hiroshi Abe) who expose fraudulent spiritualists, faith healers and magicians. This fourth and (supposedly) last film contains all the usual gags and few touching moments as the pair go to Malaysian Borneo at the behest of a mining company that wants to explore some land. A shaman (Kiko Mizuhara) refuses to leave her property. Will the pair unmask her? (English title: Trick The Movie: Last Stage, 112 min.)