I Shall Never Return
(Boku wa Konomama Kaerinai)
Reviewer: Rowanashke [email]Overall Rating: C-
Media Reviewed: DVD
Creator: Kazuna Uchida
U.S. Licensed: Yes
Released by: Media Blasters (U.S.)
Run time: 30 minutes
BL Content: Soft (touching, kissing)
Genre:? Drama
Other media: English-licensed manga I Shall Never Return [review]
I Shall Never Return is a story about a love triangle, mostly. The animation is kind of old-fashioned, but it's not that bad to look at. There's really nothing to warn about, as a kiss and a cuddle is about all it features. However, the thin plot is filled out with lots of musical interludes which feature the characters walking, thinking hard, and staring into the distance. It's supposed to be dramatic...
The story is about Amafuji Ken, a high-school drop out who sells his body to pay the rent. His best friend is Youshinari Ritsurou, who's still in school. Ritsurou has a girlfriend called Moeko, who he has been dating for a year. Judging from the conversations, he hasn't managed to do anything with her.
Ken sleeps with Moeko. Ritsurou's pissed off. There's confrontations between Ken and Ritsurou and Ritsurou and Moeko. Then it comes out, after a night at a club, that Ken is in love with Ritsurou. After a fumbled, clumsy kiss, Ritsurou runs away. Cue dramatic music and staring.
This being a boylove film, we all know how it turns out. However, the resolution is fuzzy and not at all comfortable. There's a really strange scene between Moeko and Ritsurou after she finds out (by seeing them kiss) that leaves you feeling kind of unsympathetic to her.
In general, there could have been so much more, but this came across as very shallow and unfilling. The relationships are not explored in any depth, and the characters are cardoboard and are hard to feel anything for. The cuteness that could have been present between Ken and Riturou is completely lacking. And the long, drawn out musical scenes made me reach for my fast forward button.