Never could I have imagined that a group of dancing assassins would bring such joy. But that’s exactly what you get with The Specials.
Directed by Eiji Uchida, the film follows Kumashiro (Kippei Shiina) on the hunt to take down his boss’s (Naomasa Musaka) rival, the elusive Honjo (Renji Ishibashi). When Kumashiro finds out that Honjo will be present for his granddaughter’s upcoming dance competition, he sees he’s blessed with an opportunity that is too good to pass. However, trying to infiltrate the event without drawing attention is another story.
The plan is simple: assemble a hit squad capable of performing at the dance competition. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially when the assembled assassins seem to hate one another just as much as they hate dancing. Daiya (Daisuke Sakuma), Kiryu (Yuta Nakamoto), Shin (Shô Aoyagi), and Murasame (Hitoshi Ozawa) have to learn to set their differences aside if they want to earn their big payoff. After being kicked out of several dance classes for their behaviour and lack of manners, the dancing assassins turn to a young girl who loves dance, Asuka (Urara), one of the children at the orphanage where Daiya works.
With Asuka on their side, teaching them how to work together as a dance troupe, the quintet aims to get into the dance competition and rid themselves of Honjo once and for all. But what they gain is more than just finishing the job they were hired for.
The Specials is a film that commands your attention from the very start. Although it’s about assassins, it is wonderfully warm and witty. Not only that, but it has great action set pieces throughout. Sometimes, when films have a little bit of everything, they can fall flat because too much going on distracts from the story’s main elements. Thankfully, this is not a problem for The Specials. The movie perfectly balances action, comedy, and emotion.
There is no shortage of stories about an unlikely team, but somehow it feels fresh and new in The Specials. Of course, this couldn’t be done without the top-notch acting from the cast. Every actor in the film does a great job in their respective roles. While some of the film’s story might be far-fetched, each actor brings a believability to their characters that helps to ground even the zaniest parts of the movie. Whether they’re learning new dance moves, facing off with one another (guns pointed precariously), or sharing a meal, Daiya, Kiryu, Shin, Murasame, and Kumashiro light up the screen thanks to Daisuke Sakuma, Yuta Nakamoto, Shô Aoyagi, Hitoshi Ozawa, and Kippei Shiina.
The concept behind The Specials shouldn’t necessarily work on paper or on screen, but thanks to everyone involved, it does. The film features a genre mashup that most would never expect; Yakuza taking part in dance lessons and a dance competition sounds ridiculous. However, it made for a funny, underworld romp that stands out from similar films in the same vein. It’s definitely a movie that will keep you laughing and entertained throughout, with a necessary slice of heart on the side. Ultimately, there is something special about The Specials.
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