Reel Critics: ‘Kumiko’ draws us in to odd reality

“Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter” is a quirky little tale about a quirky young woman.

Kumiko is first seen plodding along the rugged Japanese coast in a red hoodie, a hand-drawn map in her hand. The map leads her to a small cave where she finds a soggy videotape. Who left it there, and where did she find the map?

She lives alone except for a pet bunny and works as an “office lady” who fetches tea and dry cleaning for her boss. Kumiko’s a loner, barely speaks or makes eye contact, and we wonder if she is mentally challenged. She’s a mystery in search of a mystery.

The tape turns out to be a copy of the Coen brothers’ 1996 film “Fargo.” What a shock to realize she believes a briefcase full of money shown in the movie is real — and that she can find it.

As portrayed by Oscar-nominated actress Rinko Kikuchi (“Babel”), we don’t know whether to be amused, frightened or sorry for Kumiko. She lives in an alternate world of her own, and we worry for her especially when she risks everything for her vision of riches.

Only a kind-hearted sheriff (director David Zellner) tries to get Kumiko to understand she’s chasing an imaginary treasure, but she is too obsessed with her version of reality.

Beautifully filmed and acted, “Kumiko” held me spellbound right up to its haunting ending.

—Susanne Perez

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No pleasure in ‘Get Hard,’ not even the guilty kind

“Get Hard” might better be called “Get Stupid.” It’s a supremely silly film that morphs into a sleazy morass of mean-spirited comedy. Along the way it manages to insult almost every segment of human society. The nasty R-rated dialogue includes every offensive stereotype imaginable.

Women, ethnic minorities and gays are the primary targets of the malicious gags and foul comments. They assault the eyes and ears of the audience with no redeeming social value. The constant repetitions of vile homophobic jokes are especially obnoxious.

Will Ferrell is the king of this brand of adolescent humor. He plays a businessman wrongly convicted of fraud who is on his way to jail. He hires the black man who washes his car to help prepare him for prison life. A high-energy Kevin Hart plays the car wash guy who assists Ferrell in this unsavory enterprise.

What follows is Hollywood nonsense of the lowest order. There are very few guilty laughs produced in the dreadful escapades of Ferrell and Hart pretending to be in prison. Their annoying antics are painful to watch and produce far more groans than laughter.

— John Depko

JOHN DEPKO is a retired senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. He lives in Costa Mesa and works as a licensed private investigator. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a company in Irvine.