Summer Wars

Summer Wars was okay. I didn't love it, but it was a fun watch. The pacing of the film is weird. I think the film is best when you're getting to observe this family, and their love for their matriarch. Watching her step up to encourage everyone in positions of authority and leadership in her community during the phone call scene was a good character moment. That and her card game with Kenji, asking him to take care of her granddaughter are probably the best character moments in the film. However, Kenji's character never really steps up to meet Granny Jinnouchi's request. His role in ... the story is pretty mid. He does tell Granny that he doesn't believe he's capable, but we never see him struggle with himself to meet that challenge. He feels like a background character. Kenji's weak role paired with Natsuki's cringe crush on her Uncle, who's supposed to be an antagonistic force for a portion of the film, really hamper the momentum of the story.

I enjoyed the film, but it's one of those stories that I immediately start rewriting in my head after watching it.