Is there a better way to open the third (and final) installment of The Mole Song than to expose agent Reiji Kikukawa's (Toma Ikuta) holliest parts to danger yet again? It would be almost unthinkable to have the tradition of penis gags cut off in this bats trilogy which takes the mickey out of Japan's underworld and plays with clichés surrounding masculinity.
Five years after “The Mole Song: Hong Kong Capriccio”, Reiji is back with his new adventures which involve an interesting type of fusion kitchen and a batlle against Sicilian seaguls, one of the film's craziest scenes. This opener is every inch Miike, lovely in its madly choreographed slapstick nonsense. Who the heck cares that the actual rescue act isn't shown, the mood to see what happens after the beak attack will win over.
In the last chapter of “The Mole Song”, the most hilarious Tokyo police officer has to fight against the joined attempt of the Sicilian and Japanese mafia to smuggle speed to Japan. To do this, he needs to outsmart the big yakuza boss Shuho Todoroki (Koichi Iwaki) and his psycho son Leo, who – alongside his incredible strength and knowledge of martial arts also looks like he jumped out of the revial wrestling team with his silver mullet and the loud attire.
Speaking of which, the styling is everything for the yakuza men, and it's impossible not to be hypnotized by the leopard, tiger and butterfly themed suits the two best buddies Reiji and Hiura (Shinichi Tsutsumi) also known as Papillon parade through the film. Should you feel tempted to google who's the film's costume designer you'll need someone to actually do it for you in Japanese. Been there, without an actual language connoisseur, but the chances are good that Yuya Maeda, Takeshi's regular collaborator was on it again. If I am wrong, please indicate the telephone number and/ or the E-mail address of the genious in question in the comment section, because that tiger jacket is screaming my name in tremolos.
If there is something even more amusing than the fashion choices and salty jokes from the past century, than this must be Ikuta's grimacing. It feels like watching an actual cartoon character getting unglued from the paper and taking a human form to perform the same gig live with excellence. Or, the actual song “M.G.A. the rules of a mole” performed by Reiji's colleagues (including the great Sarutoki MInagawa) in the gym. Reiji's reaction to the fact it's a rap song is a mixture of fear & horror, but I approvingly repeat the last stanza: Wave your towels in the air!
The great japanese comedian Takashi Okamura reappears in the role of the small criminal Seiichi Nekozawa from the trilogy's first part, and besides him and Iwaki we recognize more than one face from the previous films. Riisa Naka is back as Reiji's big love Junna and this story will take an unexpectedly sweet turn. All of its while bullets are flying, and speedaroni are cooking.
Enjoy the soft cooked pasta seasoned by all outwordly ingredients from Takashi Miike's action comedy kitchen, and remember that there are no limits to using whatever songs to the soundtrack of a film if you are convinced enough they would work. In the case of “The Mole Agent: Final”, the much loved Christmas Carol “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” (Silent Night) is used as a birthday song, because – why not.
May the giant manta ray be with you, and do not miss the opportunity the watch this film should the possibility presents itself!
