For this version, Japanese television network “TBS” continues the storyline from their popular “Boys Over Flowers” drama series that aired in Japan between 2005-2007. All principle cast members from that series appears in this big screen version. The movie itself takes place approximately four years after the television series. F4 leader Tsukasa Domyoji announces on live TV his intentions to marry middle class girl Tsukushi Makino. Meanwhile, Tsukushi Makino is browsing the aisles of Japanese department store, when she comes across Tsukasa Domyoji’s press conference on a television set. She becomes horrified when Domyoji introduces Makino using a picture of her whoofing down Ramen. And thus Tsukasa Domyoji & Tsukushi Makino’s official engagement begins.

The couple then go through the formal engagement process between the couple’s parents at Tsukasa Domyoji’s estate. This is when Tsukushi Makino is presented with a priceless Domyoji heirloom: a diamond studded tiara. Later that evening, when the couple are relaxing in Makino’s hotel room, a masked assailant comes crashing through their her window and steals the tiara. Now the couple go on a world wide quest to recover the priceless tiara.

For fans of the Boys Over Flowers series, the big screen version is likely to offer the bare minimum to keep their fans happy. Performance by Mao Inoue is very good, while Jun Matsumoto’s oddly charismatic performance (think genetic offspring of Michael Jackson) provides just enough balance to counter the pure innocence of Mao Inoue’s character. The other members of the fabled F4 (Shun Oguri, Shota Matsuda, Tsuyoshi Abe) all have much smaller roles and are largely relegated to modeling their nifty outfits ala mannequins.

The Achilles heel of “Boys Over Flowers: Final” is a bloated script that’s short on originality. The idea of Tsukushi Makino and the F4 traversing the globe sounds good initially, but loses its luster as the story feels unnecessarily long and hackneyed. The movie’s first destination, Las Vegas, offers the most fun and this is when the movie hits its high point. There’s a handful of amusing moments during this segment - Makino playing roulette or the couple eating at a truck stop diner - and a sense of awe even arises when the F4 makes their first appearance at a Las Vegas hotel entrance. But unfortunately, the movie then loses steam with dry moments in Hong Kong and comes to a screeching halt with dull moments between Tsukasa Domyoji & Tsukushi Makino on a remote island. The story then wraps up with a nice twist and final moments that are well done.

For first time viewers, “Boys Over Flowers: Final” makes for a less than ideal introduction into the Boys Over Flowers world. Although the characters of Tsukasa Domyoji and Tsukushi Makino are done well, the script is noticeably flat (especially in the movie’s overly long second half) and the other members of the F4 seem relegated to mannequin status.