It has been announced that the film "Love ≠ Comedy (Love Not Comedy)" starring solo artist and actor Kento Nakajima will be released on July 3rd. Actor Neru Nagahama will play the heroine. This will be the first time the two have co-starred in a film.
Nakajima plays the main character, Kanzaki Reiji, a "sparkling, sharp-tongued prince" who hates romantic comedies. Dubbed "a 360-degree handsome man," he is a popular actor who has starred in numerous romantic comedies. However, upon turning 30, he decided, "I don't want to do romantic comedies anymore!" and harbored a desire to be recognized for his role in a serious drama. Yet, he receives another offer to star in a classic romantic comedy. Upon hearing that his co-star will be idol Minamihae Misato (played by Nagahama), Reiji is initially reluctant, but this encounter will have a major impact on his life... This is a completely original story.
The film will be directed by Kamiya Kaede, who also directed the 2021 drama "She Was Pretty" (Kantele/Fuji TV), starring Nakajima and Fuka Koshiba, and the 2023 drama "My Bride" (Fuji TV), while the screenplay will be written by Okita Haruka, who worked on the "Radiation House" series and the 2022 drama "Ride the Unicorn" (TBS). The film will be distributed by Storm Labels and Live Viewing Japan.
Nakajima, who has garnered support for many years as a "prince," will be powering up his public image to take on a life-sized role of a man who is lost, troubled, and grows as a person. When Nakajima received the offer, he commented, "I felt like I was finally able to act in a way that felt right for me. I was really looking forward to playing the role of Reiji, with a kind of cute irony." He also revealed his thoughts about the film, saying, "I feel like this movie will teach me the value and wonder of doing your best at what is in front of you."
Reiji's love interest, Misato, is an idol who belongs to the girl group "Pyon Pyon Fruits." After graduating from the idol group, she is active as an actress, and has gained support from a wide range of generations. Nagahama said about the character she plays, "She is a girl who has many qualities that I don't have within me. I thought her purity and hard work were really wonderful," and said about the film, "This is a work that will resonate with everyone who continues to challenge themselves in the world, and who faces various challenges while trial and error in their daily work."
The teaser visual that has been released includes the tagline "I want to pierce your heart" and the words "A supremely fictional and documentary story that supports those who work hard." This suggests that the series will not be just a romantic comedy, but a heartwarming "work entertainment" that directly depicts the way of life and love of Reiji and Misato as they struggle and clash with each other, growing as they go through life.
Nakajima and Nagahama's comments are as follows:
◇Comment from Kento Nakajima(role of Kanzaki Reiji)
-After receiving the offer.
When I heard that it was a role that balances acting and music activities, I thought, "This is perfect for me," and it felt like I could act in a way that felt right for the first time in a long time. I was really looking forward to playing the role of Reiji, with a kind of cute irony, and I thought I could extract a part of my true essence in a pop, entertaining way.
-About creating your character.
Since he's not too far from me, I used my normal self as the prototype and adapted it to create the character of Reiji. I think I usually spend about 60% of my time off, but in this production, I think my role-making was about being conscious of showing 120% of myself even during my off time. Rather than being too particular, I had a lot of fun trying to strike a balance between being fun and natural, yet a little exaggerated.
--What is your impression of Neru Nagahama?
I thought we would be able to get along really well when it came to talking about production and the stage. But when we actually met, he was even better than I imagined, and I never thought we'd have such lively conversations. He's a very clever person, and his experience as an idol makes him a perfect fit for Misato.
--About the work.
This is a film that I would like all working people to see. I think that in life, we all have times when the grass is greener on the other side, or when we feel envious of others. However, in reality, this is not the case, and I feel that this film teaches us the value and greatness of working hard at what is in front of us.
◇Comment from Neru Nagahama(role of Misato Minami)
-After receiving the offer.
I thought it was not just a romantic comedy, but also a kind of work movie about people working hard at their jobs. During filming, the director said he wanted to include some sports-spirit elements, and I really agreed with that.
-About creating your character.
I thought the role of Misato was a girl who had many elements that I didn't have. I thought it was really wonderful that she was able to express her thoughts clearly and straightforwardly, and that she was pure and worked hard. These are things that I wouldn't normally do, so I consulted with the director and tried to play the role in a way that would show that she was pure, straightforward, and worked hard.
-What is your impression of Kento Nakajima?
On the day of the first reading, I was really moved by how Reiji was right from the start. I was very nervous, but Nakajima-san was able to lead the atmosphere on set.
--About the work.
I think this is a work that will resonate with anyone in the world who continues to take on new challenges, and anyone who faces many different challenges through trial and error in their daily work. I think it will be fun just to watch everyone working hard together and facing the challenge of creating something, and there are plenty of funny parts too. I hope you will also experience the fun atmosphere on set at the theater.
