AKA: 花より男子 (Hana Yori Dango)

Genre: musical, dance, shoujo

Length: Movie, 30 minutes

Distributor: Currently licensed by Discotek Media.

Content Rating: G

Related Series: Related to, but not really in the canon of the Hana Yori Dango television series.

Also Recommended: Hana Yori Dango TV Series, Hana Yori Dango TV Drama, Princess Tutu (dancing themes), Glass Mask.

Notes: This is set in an alternate continuity to the original TV series.

Rating:

Boys Over Flowers: Hana Yori Dango - The Movie

Synopsis

Set in New York City, Tsukushi is a lowly trainee of a dance studio in New York City. She dreams of dancing onstage to the music of the handsome, mysterious Rui, who has composed his latest production score. But in order to live her dream, she will have to share the stage with Doumyouji, the prima donna who declares that Tsukushi doesn't have the slightest clue what it means to dance on stage.

Review

Take Hana Yori Dango.

Totally forget everything about it. This movie's plot has nothing to do with it.

That isn't to say this movie isn't fun, but if you are expecting something to compliment or add to the plot of the existing series, you are going to have to look elsewhere. It's as though the cast of HanaDan decided to get together and put on a school play. (But if that was the case, how on earth would Tsukushi pass as the lead?!)

I have no idea what the producers were thinking. There really is absolutely nothing that stands out from this movie. This is a prime example of perfect filler--it leads me to wonder what it was coupled with in theaters, because no way would I have paid ticket prices to see this.

On the bright side, if you have ever wanted to hear Tsukushi or Doumyouji sing, this is your chance. The music is actually really fun, if you ask me, and the dancing sequences are also charming. The best part, of course, is that the musical number at the end of the movie is actually--taDAH!--the theme song for the anime. We get to see an extended version of it, and maybe now the opening (that so many people think is silly?) makes a little more sense than it used to. (I dunno, I always loved the opening.)

Sadly, there is nothing of any consequence this short has to offer. The characters don't do anything funny, there is absolutely no romance, and nothing to provide us with a deeper appreciation of the characters. I wouldn't have passed this off for a filler episode--trying to put this into theaters really makes me wonder what is behind Toei Animation's marketing sometimes...

A fun little jaunt for die-hard fans of HanaDan, but a waste of time for anyone expecting anything exciting or of any significance. Lovely music however, and the dancing sequences are amusing. It makes things a little easier if you imagine it as the HanaDan cast putting on a school musical. — Melissa Sternenberg

Recommended Audience: Appropriate for all ages.