2.5/5 stars Not Quite Dead Yet is an over-the-top Japanese comedy centred around the strained relationship between a single father and his daughter as they grapple with shenanigans in the afterlife and a rock concert that doubles as a funeral. Yes, it’s really as manic and odd as it sounds. The film relies on nonsensical slapstick often during its 93-minute runtime. Nevertheless, the first feature film from television ad director Shinji Hamasaki is still an entertaining (if inconsequential) ride, thanks to fun turns by lead actress Suzu Hirose ( The Third Murder , Last Letter ) and a star-studded list of actors in supporting roles and cameos. Hirose plays Nanase Nobata, a 21-year-old university student who has been told all her life by her eccentric medical scientist father, Kei (Shinichi Tsutsumi), that she would one day take over his pharmaceutical company. She resists this notion, partly because of her resentment towards her father for choosing work over spending time with her terminally ill mother years prior, but also because flashbacks reveal Nanase has never enjoyed science. She spends her downtime fronting a death metal band – and their lead song is one in which she wishes death on her father. When Kei does “die” early in the movie, Nanase is forced to reckon with her behaviour – at least for about two minutes, because she quickly learns that his apparent demise is yet another science experiment and is only meant to last two days. Having Nanase learn so quickly that her father isn’t really gone is an odd narrative choice that robs the story of some dramatic material. The news is never given a chance to resonate, and the film quickly moves on to introduce a potential threat in the form of a rival pharmaceutical CEO who wishes to make Kei’s demise permanent. At this point, the plot completely jumps off the rails: Kei is able to return as a ghost – even though he hasn’t really died – and communicates with his daughter via his body odour (no, really); there’s a romantic subplot for Nanase that dies a quiet death; and the climax is the aforementioned rock concert/funeral. It’s a level of nonsensical plotting that rivals Stephen Chow Sing-chi’s hit comedic films . Still, at least the characters are likeable, and there are enough stars showing up briefly – Lily Franky is an afterlife chaperon of sorts, and Satoshi Tsumabuki is a hotel manager – to reward fans of Japanese cinema. Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook