Kekkon Annai Mystery
                                                 
Director:  Yoshikuni Matsunaga
Year: 1985
Rating: 6.0
Aka - Matchmaking Service Mystery

This Japanese film directed by Yoshikuni Matsunaga almost tries too hard to be a clever mystery of changing perceptions and sleight of hand. But too much of it is dependent on the old trope of the main female being as dumb as a rock. As cute as she may be, she becomes more and more annoying the stupider she gets. Hiroko is played by Noriko Watanabe, an idol actress at the time who was introduced to the public as one of the Kadokawa Three Princesses - the other two being Hiroko Yakushimaru (Sailor Suit and Machine Gun) and Tomoyo Harada (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time). Some of her other films are Ninja Wars and perhaps her best-known film, His Motorbike, Her Island directed by Nobuhiko Ôbayashi. She is certainly attractive in that Idol way, wide-eyed, flawless complexion and petite.



Before the opening credits, the audience sees a dead person being dragged outside into the snow and buried. No explanation of who the dead person is or who is dragging them. But the scene hints at things to come. Hiroko is an assistant in a matchmaking service. She and her boss are called to the office of Mrs. Sekine (Aiko Nagayama) who runs a large organization. She wants a prospective bride for her son, Masakazu (Ken Watanabe) and decides that Hiroko would be perfect. Hiroko thinks why not. He is wealthy. But it turns out that what she really wants is for Hiroko to pretend to be his fiancé for ten days. For a sizable amount of money. Again, why not. He is handsome, charming, teaches her how to ski. The mother teaches her how to act like a well to do high class girl with the proper manners.



This is all for a business transaction. The mother wants to pass on the business to her son and having a respectable fiancé is part of the act. In ten days, she can go back home, a lot wealthier and who knows, maybe love will come around. Of course, remembering the opening scene, it seems clear that this is not some dreamy tepid romantic film. Slowly, the truth is revealed as the story falls apart. It is murder, drugs, conspiracies, false identities and little Hiroko just keeps staying. Get the hell out girl. This can't end up good. Nothing is what it seems. Nothing. Not even the dead body in the bathtub.