I finished Engine (2005,Fuji TV) early this morning.  I had used a couple of tissues to wipe off tears watching the scene where Takuya had to drive the orphans to their new orphanages after his dad’s orphanage had to close down due to public pressure and high rent, among others.   Here, Takuya is a hot-tempered top race car driver, (Jiro Kanzaki, 32 years) who had just returned to Japan after being fired from his job in Europe.   He had been away for five years and have not communicated at all with his family.  His father, a former school teacher, heads”Kaze no Oka Home” which is like a halfway house cum orphanage.   His sister Chihiro, a divorcee, also works in that orphanage.  His father reluctantly takes Jiro back on the condition that he helps in the task of running the orphanage.  Jiro repairs a rundown coaster donated by the Catholic church and becomes the de facto driver of the orphanage.  There is a young teacher-counsellor who works in the orphanage (Tomomi sensei played by Koyuki) who “envies” Jiro for the rapport he has with the kids with his unorthodox and childish ways, in contrast to the theory based learnings of the rest of the staffs who work at the orphanage.  I always think that Takuya carries his role very well, and again, he fits the role of Jiro Kanzaki to a T.   He is also very good looking here, having a heavier build here.  His romantic interest here is Koyuki, but there is a dearth of romantic scenes here, save for a stolen kiss or rather peck on the lips towards the end when Jiro loses the Regullus cup that spells his retirement, aside from not accomplishing his goal to having funds to reopen the orphanage.   Koyuki is pretty but I am not so much for a Takuya-Koyuki screen partnership.  Furthermore, sasuga Nihon no dorama desu ga,  Jiro didn’t win, but his act alone inspired the others to work harder and to contribute in reopening the orphanage.  Engine isn’t your rah rah kind of movie compared to Pride, and I wasn’t as inspired by it as his character in CHANGE, but Jiro’s more childlike qualities has reminded me to get rid of all personas linked to an adult like behavior. I found Takuya cute whenever he relates with the other children of the orphanage at their level.