Summer Wars is a movie that doesn't know what it wants to be. Is it a coming of age story? A family drama? Cyber-punk? A rom-com? There are moments dedicated to each genre, but nothing is fully developed.
Speaking of not being fully developed, there is no reason for this story to have 24 characters, as half of them serve little to no purpose (e.g., the woman obsessed with her son's Highschool baseball games.) The audience can get a sense of family unity simply by the actions of the family, not the numbers; quality over quantity.
The story is filled with anime tropes (nose-bleeds caused by stress or embarrassment), clichés, and twists that offer no surprise and drag out the run time.
The saving grace of Summer Wars is that it managed to keep my attention from start to finish. And while the designs of Oz are gorgeous, the animation is wasted on a story that has been told many times before and will be told many times after.
6.36 out of 10, because despite the hodgepodge pacing, the characters that are developed remain likable and the story (despite being unoriginal) manages to entertain and even have its charming moments.
Anime fans should consider giving Summer Wars a watch, but don't expect much.
Speaking of not being fully developed, there is no reason for this story to have 24 characters, as half of them serve little to no purpose (e.g., the woman obsessed with her son's Highschool baseball games.) The audience can get a sense of family unity simply by the actions of the family, not the numbers; quality over quantity.
The story is filled with anime tropes (nose-bleeds caused by stress or embarrassment), clichés, and twists that offer no surprise and drag out the run time.
The saving grace of Summer Wars is that it managed to keep my attention from start to finish. And while the designs of Oz are gorgeous, the animation is wasted on a story that has been told many times before and will be told many times after.
6.36 out of 10, because despite the hodgepodge pacing, the characters that are developed remain likable and the story (despite being unoriginal) manages to entertain and even have its charming moments.
Anime fans should consider giving Summer Wars a watch, but don't expect much.