With those details out of the way, let's talk about the pros and cons of this DVD. First, the art is old-fashioned, so if you are not willing to put up with 90s-style art, give it a pass. Second, because each episode is so short (about 30 minutes), it is not able to do the kind of complicated character development one might like to see. This means that the romances in each episode may seem rushed. The first episode in particular is about the process of finding one's match; we don't actually get to see much interaction between the couple when they do get together.
Those are the cons. What about the pros? Well, the episodes do deliver entertaining romantic comedies. The first one is more sweet; the second is more funny. (Personally, I liked the second episode quite a bit more, but the ending of the first one WAS cute.) Both could provide a quick fix for someone longing for a simple rom-com. Plus, the two works have a quirky sense of humor that I wasn't expecting. In the middle of each episode, there is a bizarre interlude that is essentially like an educational film, complete with "research" and "statistics" (I have to wonder if the numbers are real; they might well be.) The first interlude is all about dating services; the second one is about where to go on dates and what to do for a proposal. These are strange segments, but I found them amusing. It made me wonder if the two works were seriously trying to teach the viewers something about courtship/dating. Interesting idea, even if it seems a bit foreign.
My verdict? At first I was going to give this release a 6, but I liked the second episode enough to bump it up into 7. I'd say this is one to rent or borrow rather than buy, but if you can buy it cheaply somewhere, it might be worth a purchase. It's the sort of thing you might watch once and then pass on to a friend. Or, rent it and watch in on a girls' movie night. In any case, "Marriage" deserves a little more love from anime fans!
