Is Haruta & Chika Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2017)

📖 The Core Premise

Haruta & Chika returns to the screen in 2017, bringing a fresh narrative to the Drama, Music, Romance genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Haruta is handsome and smart, Chika is bright and naive. When they were children, they were friends until Haruta's family moved away while he was in the 3rd grade. They meet again during a high school entrance ceremony. After all of these years, Chika is eager to join the wind instrument club. Due to an incident, the wind instrument club is about to be disbanded. Chika can't give up the flute so she attracts Haruta to her side and tries to recruit members from the wind instrument club. The group attempts to solve various cases taking place at their school while they plan to take part in a contest."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Shori Sato does well with the material given, though the script occasionally limits their range. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Drama. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Haruta & Chika worth your time? If you appreciate Drama, Music, Romance films that take risks, this is likely a must-watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Haruta & Chika is a mixed bag with some redeeming qualities. With a runtime of 118 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Watch on OTT.