Precure Dream Stars! Movie

"Take good care of your friends. Be brave. Laugh even when things get hard..." This movie acknowledges that this isn't as easy as it sounds.

Dreams Stars was an experimental crossover movie, featuring only the three newest Precure teams. Perhaps the lack of spectacle is why it scored so low. Nevertheless, I actually found this new concept quite enjoyable, as it gave the characters more space to interact. Another thing to consider is that this movie caters primarily to younger viewers, so the characters occasionally break the fourth wall. However, I didn't think it felt out of place. The movie is also partly animated in 3D, ... which may turn some people off. I really liked the 2D animation style with thicker outlines, and the CGI, while a little choppy, actually looked pretty good.

The story wasn't ground-breaking but still engaging, and the pacing was really good, in my opinion. It was fun to watch the Kirakira cures travel to different realms and meet their seniors. This movie actually made Ichika more likeable in my eyes, as she was quite mature and helped Sakura grow. Sakura was also a more fleshed-out character than I expected. I suppose the only downside was the main villain, who was more of a comic relief, so Samidare had to pick up the slack. The monsters were quite strong, though, and I enjoyed most of the action scenes. Last but not least, I really liked the aesthetic of this movie, Sakura's world, and the music.

I can recommend Dreams Stars to any fan of the seasons from 2015 to 2017. It has funny interactions, touching moments, and a well-executed message like a Precure movie should.