Fantastic!

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Exaggeration has become pretty common in run-of-the-mill Japanese movies of late. Of course there remain Japanese auteurs who strive to give us something like real life, while keeping things interesting; Hirokazu Koreeda may be the best known of these. But they are a minority. I wonder if this isn't due in part to the pervasive influence of manga.Even so, April Fools is, ...wow. Over the top, exaggerated, absurd, pretty much from start to finish. I don't think there was any two- minute segment in the entire movie that could be defended as "realistic".There is also a lot of soppy sentimentalism to deal with, especially towards the end. Numerous scenes that go on way too long. Numerous twists that are highly predictable.This is one that I would given a pass to. If you're looking for a Japanese comedy, there are better choices; one recent example is The Woodsman and the Rain featuring Kouji Yakusho. April Fools is not absolutely awful...there are only a few bright spots, largely having to do with the female lead, Erika Toda. But they don't make this two-hour film worth your time.

I feel compelled to write a review after I read the low ratings,needless to say I was quite shocked as I was expecting a 8.0 or even a 9.0 for this movie..Like Really? This is a very good movie in my opinion despite its low ratings and I am glad I watched the movie on a plane before having any beforehand knowledge on the ratings from IMDb,or I will just think its a waste of my time and toss it aside.I am not a fan of any of the actors or actresses in this movie,so I am not biased or motivated in any way to prop this high,this movie simply revolves around the theme of a white lie,thus the title name.Stories featured in this movie always involve some sort of lie.But its not necessarily a bad thing as we all know because they can lead to miracles in some selected cases.And this movie is all about selected cases. I don't think this movie is in anyway profound or deep, so critics by their nature will not like this. Basically this movie is just segments of stories about different people and their highlighted lives interwoven into a very well-paced and heartwarming movie.I am very impressed by the simplicity yet effectiveness of this film. This movie delivers its message very well to its selected audience and to those who keep themselves open.Keep in mind I am a grown up male adult and I have seen and experienced lots of horrific crap in my life, am not easily touched or even moved to tears. But I feel my walls of defenses crumbling down when 'contains spoiler''contains spoiler''contains spoiler' the girl with the speech impediment starts to confess her feelings and explain why she fell in love with the playboy swindler, so I thought I made it right? but I was ill-prepared for the worst,specifically at that scene when the kidnapped adolescent girl was bidding her "tormentor" goodbye, and for some reason, I just couldn't control my tears anymore and started crying because I think its so sad yet so beautiful at the same time. Yes it was really embarrassing.While I am very uncertain that those of you who do watch it may feel the same way, I am speaking for myself that this movie has confirmed and made me certain of an important theory,that humans as creatures of greed,aggressiveness and selfishness, cannot establish true love amongst each other lest a complete stranger if there isn't any sort of sacrifice involved.This is an under-appreciated movie that deserves more recognition.......Why are you still here?Go watch the movie already.