As someone who's only seen the first season of the Haruhi series and read only the first five manga, I came to this movie expecting more of what I had become used to; light and quirky comedy with the occasional sci-fi twist tossed in to keep it interesting, but it wasn't long before I realized that that wasn't what I was going to get.
The movie started off reasonably consistent with the series and manga, with regards to personalities, situations and content, but once the morning of December 18th arrived, it took on what seemed to me to be a definitely "un-Haruhi-like" quality, and became far less funny, far less frenetic, and anything but light.
Kyon's realization that he has awakened into a world in which Haruhi Suzumiya no longer exists throws his perception of his own existence into turmoil, and his struggles for understanding provide some very serious moments, and that seriousness never really goes away even when comedic moments are sprinkled into the story.
To put it bluntly, this movie is dark.
Not to say that it's not excellent, because it is.
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya puts Kyon into the very uncomfortable position of having to seriously examine his own life and decide how he wants to live it going forward, and the process by which he ultimately arrives at his decision is at times, extremely painful, and not without casualties.
I came to The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya expecting to laugh at Haruhi's irrepressible antics and Kyon's long-suffering straight-man routine, but after 140 often gut-wrenching minutes, I walked away feeling anything but light-hearted.
As I said, despite the familiar characters and setting, this is not your standard Haruhi Suzumiya, and casual fans of the franchise might just find themselves feeling as if they too have awakened into a parallel world or alternate reality.
Is it worth the ride?
Definitely.
But be prepared for the ride to be bumpy and unsettling.
