Love Hina, Volume 3: Secret Lives (Episodes 9-12)
This slapstick romantic comedy takes some odd turns as it reaches its midpoint. The earlier episodes depicted a farcical reworking of everyday life as nerdy Keitaro, the manager of the Hinata Apartments, pursued his dreams of entering prestigious Tokyo University, and winning the heart of fellow prep school student Naru. These adventures leave reality behind: Naru becomes an overnight sensation as a pop star in episode 11--only to give it up to continue studying for college. The relentlessly energetic Su somehow transforms into an adult version of herself in episode 10, and martial arts champion Makoto battles her aversion to feminine clothing, her phobia about turtles--and a giant robot in episode 12. The humor remains the same, with perpetual fall guy Keitaro getting pummeled by the other characters, but the story lines often fail to reach satisfactory conclusions. Rated 13 Up: Comic violence, risqué humor, tobacco use.--Charles Solomon