gee-15 Review of From Me to You

From Me to You (2010)

Delightful film even if you aren't familiar with the anime its based on...

[8/10 · 4 May 2020]

In fact, even if you aren't familiar with Japanese culture, you will enjoy the film as its themes of love, friendship and the struggle to communicate feelings are universal. I think it does reasonable justice to the anime that inspired it by touching on that program's high points (e.g. the desk shuffling, Kazehaya's jealousy at the sports festival, the rumors that threaten the three girls' friendship). Naturally, some things get short-changed. But this film (which is already pretty long for such a delicate, light story) does about as good a job as it could, I think, in distilling the anime down to its essential elements. Haruma Miura is very good as Kazehaya and captures those characteristics that makes his character the kind of boy every father would want his daughter to confess to. Initially, I didn't care for Mikako Tabe's portrayal but I was sold by the time the film ended. I was used to the waifish, breathy character from the anime and this Sawako is more restrained but her transformation from a shy, socially-inept girl who won't talk to anyone to a glowing young woman who can tell a boy that she likes him was very good and the arc was reasonable. The film is a bit rough around the edges (some of the extras overact) and the character of Pin is just as obnoxious here as he was in the anime (I don't think the character works in either place). But it's a gentle, sweet love story that anyone of any age can enjoy.