~ The movie begins and ends with a scene relating to the sequel, which makes the story feel less like a cohesive experience and more like a quick layover before a more important story.
~ Between the fact that he's both a supportive boyfriend and a caring older brother, I'm beginning to think this "rascal" isn't really much of an actual rascal. And no, being a bit pervy with your cute actress girlfriend is not an example of delinquent behaviour.
+ I gotta admit, the movie did give me a couple of good laughs.
+ Despite its languid pacing, it is thematically substantial. Without going into too much detail, the story involves Kaede, her goals for the future, and her struggles with identity.
= The Rascal Does Not Dream series is at its best when adolescent struggles are externalized into a conflict against a sci-fi/fantasy force, but this third installment/second movie somewhat flounders because most of this conflict is realized internally. Kaede is a serviceable central figure for this movie (since her story arc in the first season left a lot of loose ends), but her conflict, while relatable, is largely static and ultimately resolved through a shift in perspective as opposed to direct, tangible action.
That said, it's a nuanced character study on a character that desperately needed one, and gives us a deeper understanding of the sibling relationship between Sakuta and Kaede. While it's definitely tempting to ask for more, what we got instead was interesting in its own way, too. It doesn't exactly live up to the high points of the series, but it's far from outright awful.
