Ore Monogatari!! stands out from other romantic comedies largely because of its unattractive male lead. Most shoujo romances feature delicate bishounen who bear more resemblance to Suna, and "ugly" characters like Takeo are usually portrayed as disgusting stalker otaku. The series also defies stereotypes when Suna manages to clear up all the cliché misunderstandings in just one episode and ultimately gets Yamato and Takeo to confess to each other. In this regard, Ore Monogatari!! is revolutionary.
Another thing Ore Monogatari!! does very well is portraying friendship between guys. Typical shoujo often ignore the friendships between male friends, so it's refreshing and heart-warming to see the "bro" relationship between Takeo and Suna, as well as between Takeo and his other friends. Suna is, without a doubt, the best character in this series. I can honestly say that I watched this show almost entirely for him.
That being said, Ore Monogatari!! has some substantial flaws. While it has a unique premise, its comedy becomes overused quickly. While I enjoyed the comedy once a week, it would be tiresome to watch in one sitting. To reference a MAL review, most jokes have to do with Takeo's size, Suna's appearance, Takeo and Suna's unlikely friendship, or Takeo and Yamato's innocence. The jokes are repetitive, and nothing really new is brought to the comedy spectrum.
The other big issue with Ore Monogatari!! is that there are no real problems in Takeo and Yamato's relationship. They both have insecurities, sure, but those insecurities are dealt with quickly so that the two can return to fluff. The only really significant insecurity comes right at the end of the series, and it's given barely any time to develop. A resolution is shoved in our faces with very little time left in the series, and as a result, there is no time for the characters to undergo any development with this final trial.
While it certainly is true that Ore Monogatari!! distinguishes itself from other shoujo by clearing up the misunderstandings within three episodes, there's a reason cliché shoujo drag out romance so much: it provides a goal for the series. Other successful shoujo romance anime like Kimi ni Todoke, Lovely Complex, and Kaichou wa Maid-sama!, which I might add were all two-cour series, took a lot longer for the romance to develop. While it was frustrating at times, it provided viewers with something to look forward to. On the other hand, the entirety of Ore Monogatari!! starting from episode 3 is in the couple's honeymoon phase, and we don't get to see the realistic, less pretty side of relationships. All we get from them is "Takeo-kun, daisuki!" and "SUKI DA!!!". Despite Takeo and Yamato liking each other, there's so much they have yet to learn about one another. There's so much they may not agree on, yet we haven't seen any of it.
Aside from the story, there are a few other things to consider. The art is prety good, and it does a good job emphasizing just how different Yamato, Takeo and Suna are. The reaction scenes (especially Suna's) are done really well. The soundtrack of the series is pretty, and complements romantic moments well. It chimes in at the right moments.
Despite its flaws I mentioned above, I really enjoyed this anime. Maybe that sounds hypocritical now, but I really did like it. It addresses not only romance but also platonic friendships, difficult family situations, and even introducing a new life into the world! But like I said earlier, I don't think I could stomach watching it in one sitting. The overused jokes and fluff are nice once a week, but not if you're trying to marathon the show. The lack of real issues is frustrating. The sheer length of Ore Monogatari!! was its greatest flaw, and I believe it would have been a lot more successful as a one-cour series.
Story: 4
Art: 7
Sound: 6
Character: 6
Enjoyment: 8
Overall score: 6/10
Do I recommend it? YES! (Just take breaks every now and then)
