Oh Lucy! (2018)
91%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 9 nominations
Oh Lucy! roots its narrative quirks in universal themes and deep empathy for its characters, all brought to life by strong performances from a talented cast led by the thoroughly charming Shinobu Terajima.
Oh Lucy! is a quirky and heartwarming film that will make you laugh, cry, and cringe all at the same time. Shinobu Terajima’s performance as Setsuko is nothing short of amazing, and her chemistry with Kaho Minami’s character is both hilarious and heartwarming. The film explores the transformative power of human connection and the importance of living life to the fullest, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride!
Production Company(ies)
Tequila Gang Estudios Picasso Esperanto Filmoj
Distributor
Film Movement
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Tokyo, Japan
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2018
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 35m
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Language(s):English, Japanese
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 2, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 29, 2018
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Shinobu Terajima, Josh Hartnett, Kaho Minami, Kôji Yakusho, Shioli Kutsuna, Megan Mullally, directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi, written by Boris Frumin, Atsuko Hirayanagi, comedy, drama, Film Movement, box office gross $374.3K, reviewed by Nell Minow, J.R Jones, Richard Roeper, Richard Whittaker, Adam Graham, Betsy Bozdech, Nikki Baughan, Jennifer Merin, MPAA rating, Jessica Elbaum, Yukie Kito, Han West, producer, alter ego, English class, Tokyo, universal themes, empathy, strong performances, character-driven, culture clash, immigrant experience, ESL class, American name, wig, San Diego, tragicomic, generous, twisted, pathos, sweet, funny, dark, moving, hairpiece, happier life
Worldwide gross: $600,145
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $706,235
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,666
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 77,016
US/Canada gross: $375,391
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $441,750
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,356
US/Canada opening weekend: $14,569
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $17,144
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,566
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Josh Hartnett – John
Kaho Minami – Ayako
Kôji Yakusho – Komori
Shioli Kutsuna – Mika
Megan Mullally – Hannah
Director(s)
Atsuko Hirayanagi
Writer(s)
Boris Frumin, Atsuko Hirayanagi
Producer(s)
Jessica Elbaum, Atsuko Hirayanagi, Yukie Kito, Han West
Film Festivals
Cannes, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 9 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (56) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (1)
Shinobu Terajima is so completely in the moment that there is no sense she is aware of an audience. The desperation and loneliness her character experiences are raw, messy, and heartbreaking.
November 30, 2021
Nell Minow
AWFJ Women on Film
TOP CRITIC
As willful, selfish, and cruel as Ferrell’s screen dunces, [Shinobu Terajima] blunders into one humiliating situation after another, hardly sympathetic but never less than human.
April 8, 2020
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Oh Lucy! is quirky and offbeat and strange and sometimes quite dark – and yet oddly lovable.
May 31, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
But [Shinobu Terajima’s] performance, especially when matched by[Kaho] Minami’s hard-sighing world-weariness, is nothing less than transfixing.
April 19, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Richard Whittaker
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
At its best, it’s a comedy of miscommunication, one that hits an occasional rough spot when the location shifts from Tokyo to SoCal and a chase ensues between Lucy and her mother and sister. 2017.
March 23, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Scott Marks
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
Nothing here is wrapped up with a red ribbon the way it would be in an American film, studio made or otherwise. Oh Lucy! has the guts to leave things messy and unkempt, just like life.
March 23, 2018 | Rating: B
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Setsuko could easily have become just another face in the crowd, but she fights for her right to experience life fully, both highs and lows.
November 30, 2021
Betsy Bozdech
AWFJ Women on Film
Japanese filmmaker Atsuko Hirayanagi explores the transformative power of human connection in Oh Lucy!, a film which seems to play like a standard culture clash comedy but reveals itself to run significantly deeper.
November 30, 2021
Nikki Baughan
AWFJ Women on Film
Terajima’s performance is impressive, blending stoic resignation with flashes of humor, mischief, and longing.
November 30, 2021
Jennifer Merin
AWFJ Women on Film
A 96-minute culture-shock excursion that’s hilarious at times.
June 2, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Slight and tonally awkward. I wasn’t expecting Josh Harnett (of all people) to pop up in a Japanese movie.
January 27, 2020
Jorge Ignacio Castillo
The Canadian Crew
In watching Setsuko as she drops away mask after mask, we can consider doing that for ourselves.
October 17, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Leslie Combemale
Cinema Siren…
Plot
A lonely woman in Tokyo discovers her alter ego when she takes an English class.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Oh Lucy! features a talented cast led by the thoroughly charming Shinobu Terajima.
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