A bouncy but also lightweight classroom comedy based on shojo manga, Love Lab's endearing attribute is that the series (despite its suggestive title) avoids fan-service raunch. Romance is restricted at the all-female Fujisaki Girls Academy, so student council insiders start a secret Love Lab, where they regularly practice coquetry techniques, including when to act clumsy, whether to swoon, how to facilitate windblown hair, and whatever else they think will attract boys (who are almost never around) or get dates (which none of the girls have experienced). The twist is that through their obsessing about males, the young ladies form stronger friendships with each other (minus any lesbian innuendo). “Huggy,” a body pillow bearing the poorly drawn image of a cute boy, is a prop for much of the antic behavior (kind of like the corpse in Weekend at Bernie's), but unfortunately he drifts out of the narrative, which instead centers on snoopy student journalists who threaten to reveal the Love Lab's secrets and the hidden shame of founder Riko. Sprinkled throughout are sly references to other manga/anime titles such as My Neighbor Totoro and Golgo 13. Compiling all 13 episodes from 2013 in separate DVD and Blu-ray editions, rated TV-14, presented in Japanese with English subtitles, this oddball but often amusing series is a strong optional purchase. (C. Cassady)
Love Lab: Complete Collection
(2013) 325 min. In Japanese w/English subtitles. DVD: 3 discs, $49.98, Blu-ray: 2 discs, $59.98. Sentai Filmworks (avail. from most distributors). Volume 30, Issue 1
Love Lab: Complete Collection
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