However, the film falls short with its rushed pacing and underdeveloped characters. Within the first 10 minutes, we are introduced to a beautifully-constructed alter-world of beasts, yet this fantastic world and its inhabitants are never truly explored throughout the course of the film. Somehow though, this lack of development feels understandable when one considers how much Hosoda tried to pack in two hours. The film contains multiple subplots and considerations that linked up to the larger 'main' conflict, and at times it felt like there was way too much going on. While each individual occurrence was important on its own and essential in helping Ren grow as a character, shoved in sped-up and back-to-back left little time for the viewer to breathe. Characters thus felt more like plot devices rather than realistically part of the world. While the added characters were meant to stoke up Ren's inner turmoil, their lack of development and drawing too far away from his relationship with the beast at these points also fails to hit their intended notes by pushing viewers to instead fill in these emotional gaps themselves.
What we are given, though, still packs a pretty tight punch. The relationship between the boy and the beast (while could have been better developed) definitely triggered a couple tears. The fight scenes are great, and the closure pretty fulfilling for me. Ending theme by Mr.Children was quite fitting as well. Quite a shame, as it honestly does have a great concept and could have been so much more. I do think this entire story would have benefited a lot more had it been made as an anime instead and had the time build its world. Still, it's a pretty good film nonetheless, and definitely deserves a watch.
