Cutie Honey Film Review

I feel like I just stepped out of a warm bath of sweet cherry ice cream soda. This film is an eye explosive festival of pop colors, kawaii and slightly pervy voyeurism. It is a live version of a manga and anime from the 1970s that takes its source to heart with a deliriously looney film that almost feels like an anime at times. It is directed by Hideaki Anno who was the creator behind the animated Evangelion franchise that has been very influential in the field. I am not familiar with those but very much enjoyed two of his live films, Shin Godzilla and the adorable and slightly pervy Love & Pop.

This is in theory a superhero film, but honestly the plot is the least important aspect of the film. It is just a showcase for Anno's imagination and style. The grandiose bragging villains in their bizarre costumes are marvelous, the lair below the Tokyo Tower, the wizardly action and special effects are great fun and then of course there is Cutie Honey. Special effects are not really needed to support the actress and Gravure Idol, Erica Sato. She is a smoldering mix of pure innocence and sexual healing. She is anime. Except she is real. Anno never misses an opportunity to sexualize her in bra and panties, shorts, high skirts, cleavage enhancing tops, but she retains her air of innocence, nevertheless.

Cutie Honey is an android created by Professor Kisaragi to look exactly like his daughter who died in an accident. But he installs nanotechnology called the I-System that gives her all sorts of powers and lots of cute outfits that she can change at will. He was later murdered by the evil Panther Claw terrorist group and she wants revenge. She is a bit of a dingbat and works as an office lady messing up constantly. She consumes dozens of sushi rolls from convenience stores for energy. When her uncle is kidnapped by the Panther Claws, she goes into CGI action along with policewoman Natsuko (Mikako Ichikawa) In her serious horn-rimmed glasses. In the end of course love is the answer. Isn't it always.