Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!: The Movie (2022)

A welcome end to a beloved series

With eager anticipation from devoted fans, the long-awaited movie that continues the beloved series has finally arrived, and it delivers on many fronts. Seamlessly picking up where the series left off, the film provides a satisfying extension to the story of Kurosawa and Adachi, capturing the essence of their unique relationship and the challenges they face. It truly serves as a welcome addition to the series that fans have grown to adore.

The narrative starts with Kurosawa and Adachi happily together, planning their future after the series' memorable finale, where they overcame Adachi's fear of losing Kurosawa without his magical powers. However, their harmonious existence takes an unexpected turn when Adachi receives news of his transfer to another office. Skepticism arises, but with Kurosawa's unwavering support and encouragement, Adachi musters the courage to make a life-altering decision. The movie predominantly revolves around the pivotal choices these two characters must make together, not only to sustain their relationship but also to propel it forward.

The film's greatest strength lies in the remarkable portrayal of the two main characters by their respective actors. Akaso Eiji flawlessly captures Adachi's timidness and lack of self-assurance, allowing viewers to empathize with his journey of personal growth and self-discovery. Throughout the movie, we witness Adachi gradually stepping out of his shell and developing into a more confident individual, demonstrating authentic character development. Machida Keita's portrayal of Kurosawa is equally captivating, showcasing his charm and handsomeness while also highlighting his deepening love for Adachi. As Kurosawa embraces vulnerability and Adachi expresses his emotions more openly, we witness the genuine growth of their relationship.

While the storyline may not break new ground, the exceptional performances by the actors elevate the movie and make it a worthy continuation of the series. Akaso Eiji and Machida Keita breathe life into their characters, infusing them with depth, nuance, and undeniable chemistry. It is through their heartfelt performances that the movie shines, capturing the hearts of viewers and allowing them to witness the genuine evolution of a relationship.

In conclusion, for those who have enjoyed the series, this movie serves as a fitting and much-anticipated conclusion. It is a heartwarming journey that showcases the exceptional talents of the actors and portrays the authentic growth of a relationship. Whether you were captivated by the series' charm or drawn to the characters' endearing dynamics, this film is a must-watch, as it provides closure and continues to tug at the heartstrings of fans. Prepare to be moved by the exceptional performances and be reminded once again of the power of love and personal growth.

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I loved it....

After completing the Japanese series I came here to watch some recommendations and suddely I saw this. This is amazing I've never thought that they'll do a continuation for the series. I'm in love with this movie. and specially I didn't expect the ending like that. I'm not going to spoil anyone here in that case I'll just say that as the ending scene.

I literally loved the whole story plot. It's cute, fresh and heart touching. When I was watching the last scene I was like smiling and blushing and I literally felt butterflies because th way that Kurosawa take care of his Adachi. " when you're weak I'll be strong for you and when I'm weak I need your helping hand " that's one of the greatest line I've ever heard in a bl after a long time.

I literally loved the whole movie and I didn't felt the time passing by. This is a must watch movie after you watch the series.
( This literally made my standars go even high and I swear to god Kurosawa is literally a walking green flag )

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FINALLY Found this movie

I loved the series and searched high and low for the movie for 2 years. Finally found it here: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8fv01n

There must be some law in Japan that men can't kiss on screen, so if you're hoping for one here, it never happens. Like most movies in the BL genre, it exists in this twilight zone between gay and straight romance. Well, here's an idea: skip the romance and just make it a platonic bromance. And that is, indeed what we have here, despite the wedding and exchaging rings and all that. Audiences find simulated intimate scenes, whether gay or straight, too cringeworthy to watch, and we are spared any of that here. However, as this is a Japanese drama, why not send them to an onsen to establish some level of intimacy besides sleeping together. The film sort of putters along for nearly two hours without much visual excitement.

Akaso Eiji is cute but his character arc should have overcome his constant state of gay panic. Or maybe he just isn't up to the task as an actor? Machida Keita, on the other hand, gives a wonderfully subtle and nuanced performance. I've seen these two together on TV shows and they have great chemistry together in real life, but that seems to have been lost in the direction here. I think with straight actors who are too squeamish to kiss another guy, it's best to write out all of the gay subtext and tell them they're in a buddy movie.

I really wish I could have given this a 10 across the board but it's sort of like that feeling you get when you're desperately tring to breathe and you can't satisfy yourself with the feeling of a full breath.

Well, there's a Filipino version of this, so I'll seek that one out to see if they got more creative with it.

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An easy 10/10 for me

I can't express the emotions through words that this movie made me feel. A perfect movie after a nearly perfect drama. The awkwardness, the fear, the hesitation they went through while meeting each other's family is something you can feel in your soul. Adachi's family's reaction was too wholesome and priceless. I love how the whole family cheered and accepted their relationship, and I'm really glad Kurosawa's family also accepted this. It made me believe in humanity again. Lol.The scene where Kurosawa said that he would go alone to meet his parents shows how Kurosawa wanted to endure his parents' decision alone, but Adachi telling him they'll go together shows that they are still changing and improving with each other. Definitely one of my favorite scenes.Overall, the movie was too good. It shows that no matter how different you are or how many flaws you have, you always find a way to change with the one you love.

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Movie as flawed as the original drama: BL romance stays too superficial. Missed opportunity!

The movie (in its first half) is kind of a repetition of the drama with not a lot of progress regarding the relationship between the two main characters. Important questions regarding the couple's dynamic and the power of Adachi are never discussed. It could have been so much more if the writer had took this opportunity to approach topic such as power imbalance and consent in a relationship.

However, the second part of the film get slightly more profound as it broaches on deeper storylines around the treatment of same sex couple in Japan. Unfortunately, it remains quite superficial and reserved on the subject but at least it lays some good foundation before closing the story. Let's say that it is clearly more "baby-steps" than real LGBTQ+ militancy but it has the merit to exist I suppose.

Similarly to the drama, I had some trouble believing in the alchemy between the two main actors. There are very few believable skinship moments and I felt that the romance was progressing in an unnatural way: sometimes really slowly and some other times too quickly. The relationship was depicted as very pure and modest but that does not justify completely the lack of sparks between the leads.

The film-making was quite standard for the genre but given the release in cinema, it would have been nice to feel a bit more the budget when watching the picture and to have some more eye-catching scenes. The soundtrack did not leave a lasting impression on me, maybe because it was not really present.

I would recommend this to people that are fan of the original drama and are curious of the future of the couple. Do not expect something really deep but if you are up for a sweet BL office romance, this might do it for you!

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A very good watch, but...

I adored, absolutely adored Cherry Magic from episode 1 to 12, and when the film was announced, I was ever so excited that we were going to get a continuation. But the very first thing that happens in the film is that we find out that, basically, the end of episode 12 is no longer canon, and Kiyoshi never lost his magic like originally stated. It almost felt like a cheap way for them to write a plot for the film, by saying "let's completely forget about that whole thing about him having lost the magic on Christmas so we can turn it into a film". Early on, that didn't leave a very good impression on me, and it was a little saddening considering the quality of the original series.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very glad we got a film. It was very well-produced and the acting was stellar not just from the two main leads but the side characters, too. However, the plot felt very thin throughout a large portion of the film, and it dragged down my overall score by a bit, sadly. There were a lot of things that felt rushed, some things skipped that I wish hadn't been because it didn't make sense to cut them out (why didn't we get to see Yuuichi and Kiyoshi say goodbye before the scene suddenly cuts to Kiyoshi in Nagasaki?). It wasn't as if the film lacked direction, but the execution fell short quite a few times and the scenes didn't feel as impactful/meaningful as I think they could have.

I really appreciated the 'angstier' scenes and how they were directed, and by association the acting we saw on screen during them. Keita Machida never ceases to amaze me with his talent; I truly felt for and with Yuuichi thanks to Machida bringing him to life in such a great way. Similarly, Eiji Akaso does a great job of showcasing Kiyoshi's growth in the film which is one of the bigger things I appreciated with this film, the fact that Kiyoshi got to have his flaws and then do his best to work on them for his own and also Yuuichi's sake. They showed affection in whatever way they were allowed to (guessing it might be a similar situation as it was with the series and how that ended on that 'kiss' as the lift doors closed) and you could still feel their love for each other even if it was portrayed kind of tamely at times. The actors did the best with what they were given, and they did great.

Overall, will I still say that this is worth watching? Yes, of course. If you liked the series, then you should watch the film. But I think it's good to go into it with lowered expectations, which is hard to say because I personally went in with *high* expectations because of how great the series was/is. Sad to say that the film doesn't have the same quality and magic (forgive the pun) as the prequel series does.

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Director’s Cut Needed for the streaming release or BluRay/ DVD versions

Contains Spoilers.

What a let down!!!

I have not read the manga so I not sure if the movie is a continuation of the series or an original story, but I wondered if Ms. Okazaki Satoko, the movie scriptwriter, watched the original series or read the manga because the magical essence of what made the show a hit was lacking. It definitely loss its magic - figuratively and literally. What was once a beloved BL series because of its dramedy series became just a dramatic movie with a very few comedic scenes. They could have added more hijinks from Adachi reading his new colleagues’ mind or Kurosawa doting on Adachi. The original script writers of the series, Ms. Yoshida Erica and Ms. Okazaki Satoko, had a better adaptation of the book. (Side note, Ms. Yoshida, was also the writer of “Double” - the series.)

Touching Moments

- The storyboard is good beginning with the Prologue with the summary of the the BL series, then moved to the the 1st scene of Adachi searching through the children’s book section of the pop up van book seller. Then showing that everything is not always HEA (Happily Ever After) when the main leads get to finally be together. I liked how the second to the last scene when Adachi closed the fairytale book and revealed the title to be “The Prince and the Wizard”. 👍🏽

- Coming out to their parents - something rarely seen in Japanese BL’s.

- Holding hands at the last scene where Adachi and Kurosawa were fearless in showing their relationship publicly. 👨🏽‍🤝‍👨🏻🙌🏽

Huh Scenes

- It was fun seeing Adachi still have his magic in the beginning. I was even excited that he seems to have gained a new magical power when he brought the fire logs to Kurosawa and had gained a premonition power of seeing an upcoming event. It was a wasted scene because if he was not going to have that specific power again, why would it be necessary put on the script.

- Why is the second location in Nagasaki!!! It is fictional company! Why couldn’t they choose the new store to be closer like Kyoto or Nagano. I know the transfer lasted 8 months, but the scenes went by too quickly. The filmmaker should have done a quick montage of the pass 8 months. They should have edited the camping trip and focussed more on the struggles of Adachi and Kurosawa maintaining a long distance relationship.

- When Adachi explaining to Kurosawa his family mentioned that he has a noisy niece, he looked at the camera oddly bent over. I was anticipating a funny scene of his niece next.

- Why did Adachi’s mother and sister-in law giggled when he introduced Kurosawa to them at the home entrance but were stoic when Adachi came out at the next scene. They missed an opportunity to have a funny scene and have the family laughed as an inside joke that they already knew that Adachi was gay a long time ago.

- The last 30 minutes of the movie were coming out to their respective families back to back. It would have been better if there was a break between the two to lighten the heavy scenes.

Disappointments

- Proposal: I am not familiar with Japanese proposals so I found it odd that Kurosawa would kneel on one knee to propose (to be in a steady relationship) with matching pens to Adachi in one of the last scenes of the series, yet would stand to propose (for marriage) with matching rings to Adachi while standing on the beach. It could have been so romantic.

- Kiss: Japanese BL’s have come a long way from 2020 when there is now at least one kissing scene within the series from the two male leads. It is still puzzling that we still have not seen Adachi and Kurosawa kissed from a side view. We watched a supposed kiss when the elevator was closing in the last scene of the show and we saw the supposed kiss from a back view at 45:11. I don’t see why they couldn’t even have a quick peck on the lips within the whole movie even from the imaginary wedding before they opened the doors because this could have been classified as a bromance movie. LOL. I am not sure if it was producers or the director or the actors themselves who were uncomfortable with same sex kiss. I have read that Japan is a conservative country but is it blasphemous to see two men kissing from a side view in a Japanese film in movie theatres?

Even though there were some misses, I still enjoyed watching the movie. I would give it a 7.5 out of 10. Hopefully, there is a re-edit version and have a Director’s Cut of the movie either in digital forms or in a BluRay/DVD versions. 🤞🏽

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Magic was never lost.

Cherry magic did it again. Most the time series generally get ruined with a sequel but no, this one did great. I was smiling from beginning to the end. I loved how there was no unnecessary drama and it only showed the problems you generally face when you are dating. I loved the character growth of both Adachi and Kurosawa. Adachi became more confident with himself and Kurosawa became more vulnerable in front of Adachi and spoke his mind more often. I loved that they got rid of the magic early and showed us how Adachi can do well and even more without his powers. I loved the confrontation scenes with the parents. The pacing is good in my opinion. And the second couple didn't steal so much scenes cause I didn't like it that they had many scenes in the series. Although we didn't get the kiss scene that we were dying for but it gave us so much more. There may be some mix opinions about this but in my opinion it did really well. The magic is still there and it is stronger than ever.

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A Satisfactory Ending

The wait was worth it. The actors still managed to hold the spark and chemistry with each other.

I was completely smitten and excited to see Adachi and Kurosawa back together again.

SPOILER FROM HERE ONWARDS

My favourite scenes from the movie in no particular order

1. When Adachi reached out his hand to feel Kurosawa's real feelings about him transferring, it was heartbreaking to see both of their faces. But I'm so glad they were honest with how they felt and did not keep their feelings bottled up. Communication is important in a relationship.

2. That very cute moment when Kurosawa made Adachi wear all the clothes he'd bought for him

3. That scene in the kitchen when Adachi wanted to let the people close to him how important Kurosawa is to his life

4. The talk that each of them had with their respective parents. I completely understood where Kurosawa's mother was coming from. Living in a society that does not accept people for who they are is difficult

5. I loved the scenes in the office too. Especially the one with Fujisaki and Rokkaku. Even Adachi's scene was Urabe nailed the way people communicate their love for each other.

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