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Mitani Kōki has tried this concept a few times before, but it didn't really succeed this time. Although the setting where the story takes place is rather unusual (it is a diner on a galactic highway, after all), the plot itself fails to properly engage. Even though everything is turned on its head, and at the end a character herself declares that we mustn't forget that the universe doesn't follow human logic, it fails to win a smile. There are a lot of silly comedies or topsy-turvy movies being made in Japan and this can probably be counted among them; unfortunately, it's one of the weaker ones. The acting is also mediocre, no one stands out. Maybe it's the director's intention not to make it a clear choice of who is playing the lead, that they are all equal, but I think that's also one of the things that hurts the film. Audiences were probably drawn to the theaters by the director's name and the great cast, but from what I've read, they didn't exactly leave excited. I'm not surprised. The film is also unusually long given how boring it is. Even the final finale (the one with the kids) wasn't epic. This time, Mitani failed full on. The only thing that injected some life into my veins was the final musical performance. (17.02.2017)