Film Review - We 12 (2024)

When heading into We 12, I knew one thing about this film: I am not the target demographic. I had never listened to a Mirror song, and I did not know the band even existed until the trailer for this very film dropped. So, heading into We 12, I had no idea what to expect. Based on the trailer, I knew the film was an action comedy starring all 12 of Mirror, so I had little expectations. However, I must it, this film kind of blew all my expectations away.

The film follows a secret organization called the League of Kaito. Their job is to guard social order and peace. Each member has a unique quirk that makes them special, from being a master of hypnosis to being amazing at abseiling. We follow the group after they have been apart for so long, working on solo adventures. We see the team as they must learn how to work together while they do their best to complete their mission.

This film is most comparable to the film Metallica Through the Never. While it is a concert film, it also attempted to go beyond that by incorporating a narrative throughline throughout the entire affair. However, no matter how close it comes to a traditional narrative film, it remains, at its core, a film for the fans. The same can be applied to We 12. While not a concert film, the movie is intended for the fans of Mirror.

You can sense this from subtle subtexts, such as the plotline focusing on solo adventures and the challenge of coming together, which could be interpreted as reflecting the band ’ focus on solo musical projects and their struggle to reunite as the band Mirror. There are probably many more subtexts that I was not able to identify, but I appreciated how the film was inspired by reality. However, what I adored most about the film was the direction. This could have been a cheesy and brainless cash grab, but it isn’t. It is a very well-directed film that has a unique style to it. Berry Ho did a great job with this film.

The cast is also an utter blast. You can see in every frame of this film that everyone involved is having a great time. It leads to scenes that should not work but do. A key one is a dance number where the dance is a way for our characters to dodge a laser security system. It sounds ridiculous, but I couldn’t help but smile while watching it. Another highlight had to be the one-take action scene, which, while a fake one-take, was still fun and engaging.

The film’s biggest positive is that it never takes itself seriously. It is just a good time. While I feel Mirror fans will get more out of this than I did, at the end of the day, I really enjoyed it.