Amy Leigh
Overall, I found this series to be super adorable for what it was intended to be. I fell in love with both leads (never seen them before) and thought they were well suited for the roles (ML especially). The series was a nice change of pace from somewhat cliche stories where the story is about students falling in love and getting together over the course of a drama. Instead this is about two students who fall for each other almost immediately and we see their growth as a couple and how they inspire and help each other to grow over the course of the series. Their relationship is shown in quite a mature way as they help each other grow, despite their young age (I enjoyed the change instead of some series' constant miscommunications and fights that continue until the end of the show).
Also, instead of it being an ugly duckling story... while ML does go through a makeover later on, it's not because he thinks he is ugly but only because he doesn't want to embarrass his girlfriend (who loves the way he looks anyways and is already his girlfriend). In fact, no one ever says he is ugly before his makeover but just calls him "gloomy" since his hair is in his face and he is very quiet and doesn't talk to people. So it's not a cliche story of unpopular boys gets makeover and becomes popular, etc. Even after his makeover, he still sticks with his circle of friends and the show doesn't let his head get turned by the new attention from others (again, as many series write their own plots). The story isn't groundbreaking, but it's nice.
It's meant to be lighthearted and sweet, but it does have a deeper meaning of making oneself happy by becoming true to yourself and not running away from who you are just because your are afraid to show that side to people. Just for that, I give it a 8.5 rating!
Acting was quite decent, production was nice, music was actually really good even though I don't usually pay attention to J-drama OSTs, and the overall effect left me smiling the entire time I binge-watched it in one sitting. In fact ,I had to stop the series at one point to wonder why my cheeks were hurting (and then I realized I had been grinning over how cute and adorable it all was lol)
I would rewatch this for sure. It's very short and worth your time.
Was this review helpful to you?
Fun, quick update to Season 1
This was a great little addition to Season One for those of us who were left missing this adorable show and cast! I fell in love with this series immediately and missed it so much when I finished it, so I was thrilled when a second season was announced. I was sad it was only 4 episodes of app. 30 minutes each. However, it felt about like a special TV movie or something and made for a fun, quick update on the main two characters in particular while still managing to bring in some new characters and plot.It was nicely paced without feeling rushed, the storyline had just enough plot in each episode, it felt fresh enough that it was worth revisiting the characters and getting an update on them (as well as having some progress for those who felt a bit cheated for how things ended with the main couple on season one) but there was not too much new stuff that it felt unnatural like they were forcing a new storyline or anything.
The new season picks up after the main couple of Fujiwara and Hikaru have been living together for a while after he returned to her dimension at the end of season one. They open up season two by moving into a new house, but they still haven't progressed romantically or admitted their feelings for each other. Although they each want to do so, bumps in the road seem to keep them from admitting their true feelings to both each other and themselves... bumps which comes mainly in the forms of attractive co-workers and the rumors of Hikaru's former wife possibly being in town.
Acting was of course great when dealing with people like Chiba Yudai, Kiriyama Renn, Kamio Fuju, and Ito Sairi. I give it high ratings for that, despite its short length and lighthearted writing. It's nothing groundbreaking, but for what it's intended to be, it's works very well.
Since it's short and about the length of a movie and filled with some of my favorite people, I would definitely watch it again.
Was this review helpful to you?
Some interesting moments, but mostly forgettable
This is my first review to write here on MDL, but I had to write on as I just finished this movie and had looked forward to it after seeing the very high ratings it had received from other fans.First off, let me just say that overall I felt like this movie was pretty pointless. It never made itself quite clear with a genre- it wasn't quite a romance, not quite a comedy, not quite slice of life, etc. As such, it felt a bit confusing since it couldn't seem it make up its mind as to what it was and didn't give viewers a clear emotion.
Second, while the male lead and a couple of the supporting characters did a good job acting with the material they were given, others left much to be desired. That's why I only gave an 8 for acting- some were good, but others were just not up to par. One of the supporting characters was unbelievably unlikeable and delivered 99% of her lines at a full blown yell. While it was supposed to go along with her character's personality, there are more ways to express anger and emotion that screaming at the top of your lungs. As such, it was irritating and annoying to hear so much screaming and noise throughout so much of the movie.
In addition, the female lead left some to be desired as well. Part of this was the acting but some of it was due to the story as well. I never felt connected to her as a viewer- there is not much background story ever given and viewers just kind of jump right into her life and the love story with absolutely no set up. (Literally the opening scene is the couple meeting) So therefore you get no time to know the FL and connect with her- so in essence you don't start rooting for her or cheering for her yet before she even meets this guy. As such, you don't really feel involved in their story or invested in it either.
The female lead didn't show a wide range of emotions either, which I feel like also detracted from the storyline which was actually quite basic and simple... not to mention short. Because so much of the film focuses on the people in her mind (who represent her inner thoughts) arguing, deciding what she should do, etc it feels like only half the film is actually about the couple and half is about the people in her brain. So is that enough time to really flesh out their love story? Not to me it wasn't.
(MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD)
In addition, I couldn't ever really care for the female lead either overall. Her insecurities (as represented in the people in her mind) were what caused the majority of her relationship issues. Yet, the movie acts like the male lead was actually the bad guy (he certainly did have some bad points of course, but she would overreact, lie, run away, etc all due to her insecurities and immaturity).
By the time you get to the end, you can tell clearly how it will end and the ending is so obvious and expected that I was highly disappointed and felt like I had pretty much wasted 2 hours of my time. The ending was no better than a some motivational Instagram account (you will understand once you watch it).
I gave the music an 8 because nothing stuck out as bad and the only time I did notice it was when it was bit too loud in the background over their voices. But overall, the music choices were decent. So nothing horrible there to take away from that rating.
If you like Yuki Furukawa, then I would recommend you watch this movie just once as his fan. But otherwise, there are much better movies out there.
Was this review helpful to you?
