ReLIFE (2017)

I've expected this to be better than it ended up being, as the story seemed intriguing and the mange on which this film was based on is quite popular. However, the result was rather boring. The story did had some originality at first and it had it's funny moments, mainly due to the leading actor who was really good portraying a man who was turned into a teenager again. However, most of the events of this film were just the same ones you'll probably find in any other Japanese manga school movie: the festival, the school fair, the trip etc. I would rather had the story focusing more on the main character and his journey to change himself and become a better future self. Finally, the love story was okay, had it's twists and surprises, but the two actors didn't have much chemistry to work with. So, 4 out of 10.

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likeable back-to-school fantasy

I am glad I disregarded the negative reviews to watch reLife〜for me this was a lovely thoughtful film、yes it is fantasy and repeats some typical episodes in Japanese school life like festival、 trip and so on but not dwelling on each of them too long and treating them within an original theme of so-to-say a person living inside while at the same time standing outside youth〜 yes it is fantasy but still has something to say to both young and older ages I believe。 its main weakness for me was the very ending with its just too neat and predictable ”resolution”。 This role suited Nakagawa well like other teen roles he has played and ”made his own” as I feel his screen presence very much has childlike freshness、 but maybe he has now reached his own graduation in real life （unfortunately not yet seen in his most recent role in the disappointing 「Oyabaka Seishun Hakusho」）and I will be interested to see how he makes the transition from ”youth” drama to ”adult”roles and hope he is successful without losing his youthful attractiveness〜

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