Once Upon a Crime (2023)

Once Upon a Crime is that rare remix that treats fairy tales like a playground and a crime scene at the same time, spinning Cinderella’s midnight magic into a brisk, cheeky whodunit led by a surprisingly sharp Little Red Riding Hood. Director Yuichi Fukuda leans into buoyant camp and parody without turning it mean-spirited, letting the jokes land while the mystery keeps you happily leaning forward. The vibe is colorful, fast, and knowingly ridiculous—glass slippers, royal glamour, and a body in the road all sharing the same storybook frame with a wink. If you want a serious detective drama, this isn’t it, but if you’re in the mood for a playful fantasy-comedy that refreshes familiar characters by letting them surprise you, it’s an easy evening’s delight.

Once Upon a Crime wants to be a cute mash-up of fairy-tale glam and a whodunit, with Little Red Riding Hood playing pint-sized detective amid Cinderella’s ball-night chaos. The problem is it often talks its way through the mystery instead of letting it unfold, so you get long stretches of explanation that drain momentum and make the runtime feel heavier than it needs to. If you’re expecting a snappy, twisty crime-comedy or constant laughs, you may find it oddly dull between the fun concept and the occasional visual charm. Still, if you enjoy Japanese comedic style, fairy-tale cosplay energy, and you don’t mind a chatty, slow-burn mystery with some moderate peril, it can be a harmless one-time watch.