I've watched several adaptations of the Itazura Na Kiss franchise and like all others, had high expectations for this one. I literally just stalked the internet waiting for english subs for this to come out so I could watch it. I can honestly say no adaptation has nailed Jiang Zhi Shu's (Irie Noaki) character to the point than this one. There wasn't too much aloofness like the Korean adaptation and he also wasn't too kind/amiable like the Thai version. Previously, my personal Zhi Shu favorite was the Taiwanese version starring Joe Cheng and Ariel Lin because it was the only version of all the ones I've seen that I saw Zhi Shu developing feelings for Xiang Qin and not just proclaiming his love unexpectedly to her at the climax. However, after watching this adaptation, I can honestly say that Darren Wang played Jiang Zhi Shu the best. The Zhi Shu in this movie shows just enough emotion to make his love seem real and maintains the same aloofness to keep to the original plot. Jelly Lin also played a good Yuan Xiang Qin. Her blind and unrequited love was annoying at all, unlike the Xiang Qin in the Taiwanese Movie remake starring Esther Wu.
Now onto the plot. Like all the Itazura Na Kiss remakes, this movie was very fluffy and not to be taken very seriously. There were many overexaggerated plot details that made me laugh because of their absurdity. The romance itself was very cute and light-hearted. I absolutely adored the moments where Zhi Shu would quietly smile to himself after interacting with Xiang Qin. My favorite part was the high school phase. I found it incredulously funny of the school system and how they separated and made a very clear distinction between class A and F. After watching this, I find myself wishing this movie was a drama instead so I could see all the other scenes that the writers left out because of the time constraint of it being a movie. I hope another remake comes out.
To anyone who's watched this: watch their marriage scene on youtube that wasn't included in the movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA-epdtfI7M
