DVD Review: Step Up Love Story Complete Collection

[Chris Beveridge]

Review by Mark Thomas

Mania Grade: B
* Audio Rating: B
* Video Rating: B
* Packaging Rating: B-
* Menus Rating: B-
* Extras Rating: B
* Age Rating: 16 and Up
* Region: 1 - North America
* Released By: Media Blasters
* MSRP: 19.99
* Running time: 120
* Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
* Disc Resolution: 480i/p
* Disc Encoding: MPEG-2
* Series: Step Up Love Story

In Summary:
Recommendation for Step Up Love Story is a little difficult, because it falls right in the middle of the too much/not enough dichotomy. It is set up and flows like hentai, but stops short of any graphic sexual situations. Therefore, it might be too tame for fans of hentai, and too explicit for fans of general romantic comedies. What is here is pretty innocent and sweet, so I think it would at least be a good title for people who are interested in hentai, but are nervous about making the leap. Step Up Love Story would be a good initiation.

[ooga]

Maybe my high expectations had something to do with this, but I found it to be rather boring and not funny at all. I heard a lot of praise for this show, ultimately for me it was a major letdown.

[Panko]

Originally Posted by ooga

Maybe my high expectations had something to do with this, but I found it to be rather boring and not funny at all. I heard a lot of praise for this show, ultimately for me it was a major letdown.

took the words right out of my mouth, definitely didn't live up to the hype. i thought it was going to be more along the lines of a comedy with awkward sexual situations and both ended up severely lacking. if anything, i'd give the show no more than a C-, but even at $12 i still feel ripped off.

[General Hentai]

Originally Posted by Panko

took the words right out of my mouth, definitely didn't live up to the hype. i thought it was going to be more along the lines of a comedy with awkward sexual situations and both ended up severely lacking. if anything, i'd give the show no more than a C-, but even at $12 i still feel ripped off.

Total disagreement. This deserves nothing less than an "A". It is a total steal at $12.00. Do I wish it was more explicit? Sure I do! But think of it as being like a Cinemax late night soft porn flick...but with good acting. This is a very nostalgic series for me, as it takes me back to the early days with the woman with whom I've been with for 19 years. There are so many things in this series that I can relate to, as in, "Hey, we did that! Oh, remember when..."

I've loads more to rant on but beddie bye time for me.

Curiousity results in a general question to all: What is your opinion of this series, and have you or are you in a long term adult relationship? I ask that because I feel that adults who've been in LTRs would tend to grade this higher, as there are numerous shared experiences that can be related with the characters in this series.

[Panko]

^ i guess that's true, people with LTRs can probably relate to it and enjoy it more. i haven't had any lasting more than 2 years so the "nostalgia" effect is lost on me.

the lack of explicit sex wasn't a problem, my disappointment comes from that everything else was underwhelming. besides the tension of the 2 of them bumping into each other in the hotel episode (as noted in the review), it was just "point A, short sex, point B, short sex." i know it sounds a little foolish and weird from a hentai standpoint, but the comedy and such (which i was really hoping for) was just too shallow for my enjoyment.

[VinceA]

Originally Posted by General Hentai

Curiousity results in a general question to all: What is your opinion of this series, and have you or are you in a long term adult relationship? I ask that because I feel that adults who've been in LTRs would tend to grade this higher, as there are numerous shared experiences that can be related with the characters in this series.

I was about to ask this very same question. I'm sort of in the same situation as you (24 year relationship, nearly 20 of marriage) and the description of the show sounds like something I'd like.

[Njr Scrawl]

One step up from Sakura Diaries, one step down from Darling. Maybe.

[Dissonance]

Yeah, this one was a major disappointment. I was left wondering why the main characters were written as 25-year-olds when they're as mature as your average anime teenager. I found them really boring people.

[Shsway]

This one's alright. I didn't go in expecting too much and mostly my interest lay in the seiyuu involved. Yura seemed a bit empty-headed, but otherwise the show is pleasant enough. I guess I'd give it a C+ or B-, depending on the day.

A rarity for me: I found the video encode a bit distracting. I don't know how to describe the "hyper-glare" that seemed to exist on certain color areas, particularly in the eyes of the characters. Anyone know what I mean? Not really part of my overall scoring of the discs, but still worth mentioning, I think.