I find From Up On Poppy Hill to be awkwardly enjoyable. The characters are cliché, the music is just what you'd expect, and the visuals are simple yet charming. Even so, this film is great in it's own way. Every critical bone in my body is saying that I shouldn't enjoy this movie but for one reason or another I smile every time I watch it. This is mostly due to the characters, cliché as they are. I feel that most critics believe that not breaking from the norm is a bad thing. From my point of view, it isn't always and this film is a great example of that. There is little to nothing 'new' that this film does but I love it. The characters have arcs that, though aren't terribly predictable, aren't anything new. The main relationship is between high-schoolers Umi and Shun. Their friendship starts out rocky but they soon realize that they have feelings for each other and it buds into something more. When Umi shows Shun a picture of her deceases father, however, Shun notices that he has the same picture and that their father may be one in the same. This is a semi-new idea, at least for American storytelling, but quickly becomes predictable with an ending that you can see coming near the end of the second act. One sub-plot that helps build the relationship of the two lead characters is also very predictable. An old building that houses most of the school's clubs is soon going to be demolished and it is up to the members of the clubs to stop it from happening. With the help of Umi, the club members decide to clean up the building in order to look presentable enough to be saved. We all know where this goes: the company head who wants to take it down has a change of heart and decides not to tear it down. The entire film is like this but I don't seem to mind. It might be the simplicity of it all or maybe even the voice acting but I just can't dislike this movie.From Up On Poppy Hill is enjoyable yet cliché.
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