From what I've seen of the iDOLM@STER anime series so far I quite like the whole series overall. The TV series was generally a fun watch and this movie basically feels like more of the show. While I liked this overall, I'd be lying if I didn't say it was kinda lackluster. And I'll keep this spoiler-free as can be. The movie starts off pretty well introducing us to the girls following the end of the show. They're all accomplished, experienced, and established idols to the point where they're basically superstars landing all sorts of big gigs. The beginning of this movie has everyone unite onceagain to prep for a huge gig the producer lands them and that first 40 minutes or so until time for the ending performance was this series doing what I feel it does best, and that's being casual.

iDOLM@STER hasn't necessarily been great when it comes to being dramatic, but it's had some situations that were handled better than others. And the entire movie past that first 40 minutes until that last performance has everyone suddenly hit with two big cases: Producer revealing bad news to the 765 girls and then 765 being tossed into the turmoil of another group's struggles. I actually think Producer has earned the right to act as a plot device in this final showing of the 765 branch of the iDOLM@STER series as he's been developed into a notable figure through the anime who keeps the girls afloat as idols as well as striving to do a good job in his role for everyone else's sake opposed to his cookie cutter portrayal in the games. But then the main issue with this movie lies in that other group I mentioned. I didn't really mind their presence per se, but they introduce a degree of tension that you could say isn't enough to carry basically an entire movie on it's own, and then it's not entirely something we hadn't seen already.

Now onto the second group. They kinda squander the potential screentime members of 765 could've gotten because they're given a bit too much focus IMO. I actually like their inclusion in general because I thought we'd be getting some kind of passing a torch kinda moment with 765 to them, but we're thrown too deep into their issues and it affects everyone because a good part of the movie becomes more about them than 765. Don't forget, 765 already consists of 14 main members (15 if you count Kotori), so it doesn't help that they added 7 more people for them to share a screen with so a lot of characters still get screen time but their presence is subdued. I was definitely disappointed that the majority of the 765 girls didn't really have any individual moments to look back on.

Of everyone thrown into the shuffle here, Haruka gets elevated as she's put in an important role that sees her bearing the most responsibility on behalf of everyone, so if you're a fan of her or like her you'll be pleased there just as I was. It felt like an appropriate role for her because it challenges her to make decisions for problems that other members would've either had less difficulty dealing with or couldn't have done so with the same degree of tact. I also liked her interactions with another member of the other group as Haruka is seen as a role model for her but the two are very similar in many ways.

When it comes to general aspects such as animation and music this movie does just as well in those areas as it did in the show. Guess my only small complaint for music would be the execution as I would've liked it if there were more moments where entire songs were performed rather than used for brief transitions.

Overall I'd say I liked this movie, and if you were a fan of the main show or the series in general you'll probably be content with this. It does unfortunately have a lot of the same issues as the show though. The drama is…considerably typical for an idol series and it felt more like a side story for the show than a plot to carry a movie that would've been better served as a farewell for 765 given this is the last main anime entry. Wouldn't say this is a must watch entry, but it's a decent conclusion to their story even if it isn't actually satisfyingly conclusive enough.