Not An Action Film, But A Japanese Comedy!
"Adrenaline Drive," is not an action film, or a romantic comedy, but just a humorous Japanese comedy. The films narrative centers around a shy rental car worker named Satoru Suzuki (Masanobu Ando) and a very shy nurse named Shizuko Sato (Hikari Ishida). Their lives will intersect when Satoru is taken away by a yakuza thug named Kuroiwa (Yatuka Matsushige). When Satoru is taken to a yakuza hangout for intimidation and torture, he is mistaken as a new recruit by another yakuza thug, who winds up blowing up the place. However, Kuroiwa will survive the blast.

Shizuko, being the dutiful nurse rushes to the scene of the explosion to assist the injured. As the ambulance takes the survivors to a hospital, Satoru, along with the nurse Shizuko take off, thinking that the angry Kuroiwa is dead. However, in their escape they take the yakuza's money. [Not a good idea]. Meanwhile, six of the yakuza who are in training go after both of them. This is not an action film, so don't expect shootouts or explosions throughout the film and you will not be disappointed: Just kick back and enjoy a pleasantly entertaining Japanese comedy.

I thought "Adrenaline Drive," was a fun and relaxing comedy. I have been trying to build a more steady collection of Japanese comedies over the years and I happened to enjoy this one. Most of my Japanese films consist of drama, mystery, horror, samurai, and old classics. Therefore, I have been trying to add more comedies over the years. This film will appeal to some viewers and not others. Depending on what you like in a comedy. I find comedy to be one of those genres where everyone has different tastes in what is funny. Therefore, I recommend you rent the film first to see if it appeals to you. But I enjoyed the film and own it. [As with every other film I review].

Also, for those of you who like Japanese comedies, I would like to highly recommend two comedies by director Shinobu Yaguchi, which are not listed on amazon. The first one is a dark comedy called "Down The Drain," (1993) the Japanese title of this film is ["Hadashi no pikunikku"] it is hilariously funny. The other one is titled "Waterboys," (2001). Which is a very funny film. If you can, try and purchase or rent these two films, they are truly funny films. I find myself laughing hysterically to the film 'Down The Drain' whenever I watch it, and the lighthearted comedic themes in 'Waterboys' is very funny. I would have done a review of both of them, however, as I wrote above, they are not listed on amazon.

Simply funny
'Adrenaline Drive' revolves around two young pushovers - Satoru, who delivers rental cars, and Shizuko, a shy nurse. Satoru's boss uses him as a scapegoat when they have a slight run-in with Kuroiwa, a sterotypical Yakuza thug, and Satoru is taken back to gang headquarters for slight torture and extortion. Another yakuza member mistakes Satoru for a new recruit, and he accidentally blows up the building (gas stoves, gotta watch out for them!). Shizuko hears the explosion while on a snack break, and, like the dutiful nurse she is, proceeds to help out the rescuers. One yakuza (Kuroiwa, of course) remains tentatively alive, and during the ambulance ride, he causes a wreck in an attempt to escape. Satoru and Shizuko escape, leaving Kuroiwa for dead, taking with them the cash from the yakuza stash.
Our unlikely heros are then forced to flee remaining gang members (after literally "laundering" the cash) and the first of many ridiculous chases ensues.

Simple plot, but the unexaggerated and sypathetic characters make this movie quite enjoyable. Even the yakuza members come across as understandable... though they are violent, no true intent to harm comes across. The interaction between Kuroiwa and the head nurse at Shizuko's hospital proves especially ludicrous. Overall, don't expect any philosophy from this film, just relax and enjoy...

AN INTERESTING LITTLE GEM!
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL ANYONE WHO MAY BE THINKING OF BUYING THIS FILM THAT IT IS WORTH THE $2-$3.00 THEY ARE ABOUT TO PAY FOR IT.
THIS MOVIE, ALTHOUGHT NOT A MASTERPIECE, IT IS NOT A "TURKEY" EITHER. NO, THIS MOVIE IS SOMEWHERE IN THE "GOOD" PILE. PERSONALLY, I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT HAD A STORY, AN UNUSUAL ONE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BUT NEVERTHELESS, A STORY THAT CAN BE FOLLOWED. ALSO, IF YOU ARE OPEN-MINDED AND IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY, YOU TOO WILL FIND FUNNY MANY SCENES THAT ARE HILARIOUS IN A "JAPANESE SORT-OF-WAY" --- WE REALLY GET TO SEE THE "JAPANESE HUMOR" (THE JAPANES BOSS WHO ABANDON HIS EMPLOYEE TO DEAL ALONE WITH THE "YAKUSA" IS REALLY FUNNY.
FOLKS, I CAN'T GO INTO ALL THE REASONS I LIKE THIS MOVIE BUT ALTHOUGHT IT IS NOT AN ACTION MOVIE. IT IS FUNNY, ROMANTIC AND I THINK A "GOOD" PORTRAIT OF CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE LIFE.
SOME PEOPLE THINK THIS MOVIE IS "BORING" AND THEY ARE CORRECT, EXCEPT THAT THIS IS THE WAY JAPANESE PEOPLE ARE. THEY DON'T RUSH THRU LIFE AS WE DO. THEY STOP AND "SMELL" THE ROSES.

overworked plot, poor quality photography, dull comedy
couple gets cash from gangsters and run off trying to
escape gangsters in pursuit. Dull humor - bordering on
three stooges hitting over head with shovels, but with
less appeal. There is no meaningful character development.

This is not a romantic comedy, or an action film.
I want to make that clear - this is *not* a romantic comedy, or an action flick.

It's a comedy. There is a romantic connection between the two main characters. But this is not a romantic comedy.

What this is, is a comedic chase movie. And it's a friggin' good one. Our heroes are the hapless Japanese stereotypical main characters: Both weak willed, and without backbone. They find themselves in possession of the equivalent of several million dollars in Yakuza cash... stolen from a gang that they think has been wiped out.

"Think" is the key word in that sentence. Why? Because one man who refuses to die (no matter how hard anyone tries) and six Yakuza in training are left... and they're hot on our heroes' trail.

Not a perfect film, but one that you can watch again and again. I will warn you that if you're expecting pulse pounding excitement, you're barking up the wrong alley. This is first and foremost a comedy, and nothing else. Don't expect anything to blow up (I mean on screen, the explosion of the Yakuza headquarters takes place *offscreen*), don't expect shoot outs, and don't expect dramatic car chases either.

Expect just to see something funny.