Swing Girls: I heard once that there are really only a few stories that you can tell and that just about everything has already been told before. One of those few stories that can be told is the one about the group of ragtag kids who come together as a group and form a band and really rock out. Hollywood has told this story in the form of Sister Act 2, School of Rock and others. In Japan they added a new twist on this tale by bringing a group of girls (and one boy) to form a swing band.

Much of this is quite typical in how the kids act. At first they do it simply to get out of summer classes and then develop a passion for it. Aided by their jazz loving teacher they practice and learn to really swing. Of course this leads to a big music competition which they must enter and play in. Adding to the realism is the fact that none of the actresses could play and yet they really play the music in the film from the amateurish sounds to the polished swing at the end.

What makes this movie so special is, as expected, the music. Big Band Jazz and Swing are two of my favorite styles of music and these girls really know how to swing. The soundtrack contains covers of some of my favorites including the Duke Ellington classic, "Take the A Train" to the Swing standard "In the Mood." Also featured are some recorded tracks of "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong and L. O. V. E. by Nat King Cole.

It's all been done before but it's really a fun ride and did not fail to please. In fact it went above and beyond all expectations. I highly recommend this!

Labels: Japanese, Musical