Unparalleled all-star cast plays in a vulgar adaptation of a comedy shounen manga. Watch it even if you hate it because this sort of cast appears once in a blue moon.

It's easier to say who among Japanese top actors didn't act in Gintama than who did. Oguri Shun is a definitive action leading man so his casting as Gintoki is understandable the same way it's obvious why Nagasawa Masami played Shimura Tae. Addition of hugely popular Hashimoto Kanna as Kagura could just be an indication of a big budget. But nothing explains why art-house heavy-weight and Japanese public darling Suda Masaki plays Shinpachi. Nothing!

As if one film festivals awardee is not enough, Yagira Yuuya is also there. Other characters are either played by drop-dead gorgeous actors like Okada Masaki, Yoshizawa Ryo (both of whom are unbelievably handsome throughout the whole movie), and Nanao (who famously said that she wouldn't date "a Shinpachi" after the rumours of her dating Suda Masaki surfaced), comedy veterans like Sato Jiro, or older audience favourites like Yasuda Ken.

Obviously, the evil mastermind of the movie had to be played by none other than KinKi Kids' Domoto Tsuyoshi.

The movie narrowly avoided casting Sato Takeru, Kamiki, and Fujiwara Tatsuya (presumably so as not to throw shade on Ruroken franshise). Also, for some reason, Ayano Go is missing but his friend and titan of Japanese acting Yamada Takayuki is there albeit in a tiny voice-over cameo.

The only movies enjoying such a cast are usually serious blockbusters by famous directors like Ruroken or Kingdom. How come such a cast could be gathered to act in a vulgar relatively low-budget samurai comedy? The Japanese public couldn't fathom this either so it kept going to watch the movie and eventually made it a huge box-office hit.

The brilliant actors add charisma, relatability, and depth to the 2-dimensional characters they are playing even if they have just a couple of scenes. Nagasawa Masami and Oguri Shun even manage to create real chemistry in the scant 3 minutes of screen-time they share. Suda Masaki, Hashimoto Kanna, and Yoshizawa Ryo, in particular, show some real emotion. Oguri Shun perfectly conveys quiet sadness of a person who had lost everything including his own identity.

I'd dare say, the depiction of this sadness and nostalgia so typical of the titular shounen manga is one of the strongest points of the story. A true shounen spirit is always a pleasure to observe. The relationship between Gintoki, Kagura, and Shinpachi as well as camaraderie between other characters is suitably heart-warming.

The comedic timing of the brilliant cast is spot-on. Okada Masaki is particularly delightful as a hapless rebellious samurai.

The only two actors who don't quite put their weight are Yagira Yuuya and Domoto Tsuyoshi. They seem miscast a bit.

The story itself is full of gags of varying quality (including pop-culture allusions). The viewer must survive the gross opening sequence (that features beetle hunting and some very questionable humour) to enjoy the rest of the story which is quite watchable. Admittedly, the action is not up to, say, Ruroken standards but it's ok. I'd say, that the manga is actually less vulgar and more heart-warming but what can you do.

If you enjoyed this movie, don't skip Gintama 2 - in some aspects it's even better.