One thing someone has to get used to when reading or watching a gag series is that you can and shall never expect any sort of character progress. Each character serves as an archetype in this joking system, and what only matters is how different the punchline or the delivery of the joke is every time. In the style of comedy of a franchise like Seitokai Yakuindomo, one character can only deliver a sex joke one too many times—which is why this show has a wide range of characters with different perks that make it entertaining no matter how predictable it gets.
Don’t think of the movie as any large-scale side story or expansion to SYD. In fact, it’s safer to think of it as an extension of the Season 2 OVAs, as each segment is even titled according to the episode number order of the series. As such, gags are presented just like the show, which makes this a 2-episode special more than anything.
You could have qualms or complaints on how the movie is still in its episodic format, but the truth is it’s not really as relevant to properly addressing the one criticism the film lacks over its predecessors.
Characters, as mentioned, are driving forces of a gag-filled comedy like SYD. Without the diversity of its characters, it can get old pretty quick, and this is exactly what happens through the rest of the film. Screen times for the supporting characters beyond the student council breath new life into the past two seasons, and lessening their involvement in this film hampers the impact of what would’ve been a harmless fun time. There’s not enough Dejima, Uomi, Hata—all of these prominent characters lack enough involvement in the film, effectively limiting the variety of the film.
While on technical standpoints both animation and sound get nice upgrades, to the point that there is a fourth-wall break about the nice surround sound the film has over the TV series, and the creativeness of visual comedy the film takes to assert its bigger budget, they’re sadly nothing to write home about, and even more does it lack the ability to boost enjoyment over the film’s inferior one-sided humor.
Personally, even though I don’t consider SYD Movie as the worst experience I’ve had with the franchise, I also feel that it’s the weakest entry it has ever had. With a lack of comedic variety through its memorable characters, the film remains nothing more but a dump of lackluster sex jokes and a waste of fanservice potential.
