Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2013

Grump. Why do these unbelievably if fleetingly popular boy bands du jour playing disposable arena-pop always compare themselves to the Beatles if none writes songs of even plays an instrument? Okay, this sanitized infomercial was not made for me. But is maybe just one little wart too much to ask for? A hint of the cynicism behind their corporate creation? Tweeting tweeter girls will adore it. Human beings, well, not so much. A closing scene has the Pre-Fab Five wisely saying they’ll just ride out this dumb-luck phenomenon. But I feel the sequel, say five years down the money/ego road, will be less pretty. (92 min)