Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? is easily one of the better adventure stories out there with one of the most deceptively bad titles. The name alone makes it sound like a generic, high fantasy, harem series, but the world created by author Fujino Omori is well developed, compelling, and mysterious, and its eclectic inhabitants are a joy to watch. The anime premiered in 2015 to great acclaim, as did its spin-off that was released two years later, Sword Oratoria. Now, alongside the original’s long-awaited second season comes the series’s first feature length film. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion made its subtitled North American theatrical premiere at Anime Expo 2019 (with a public release on July 23 in select theaters), and it delivers an enjoyable whirlwind of an adventure.

The story begins in full force. In an ominous prologue that takes place in a long-abandoned castle surrounded by a sickly purple forest, a group of adventurers is slaughtered one by one by a monstrous creature. The action then switches to a casual day of adventuring with protagonist Bell Cranel and his party members Lili the supporter and Welf the blacksmith. Afterward, the group attends the New Moon Festival with Bell’s sworn goddess Hestia. They stumble upon Hermes on an outdoor stage, hawking a free trip around the world for anyone who can pull a sword spear from a stone crystal. Naturally, many adventurers give it a try and fail, including a certain Sword Princess. Of course, Bell is the one who pulls it out, and everyone is then introduced to the sponsor of the contest, the goddess Artemis.

Artemis is new to the series’s lore. She, like all the other divine beings, came down from on high to live among mortals in search of something beyond eternal life. She is Hestia’s cherished best friend, but she is also quite the enigmatic character. After Bell pulls the spear from the crystal in Arthurian fashion, she runs up to him and hugs him. Moreover, she always refers to him as “My Orion” or “Orion” thereafter. Hestia finds this behavior unusual because Artemis is a virgin goddess who always values purity. In other words, Artemis is “the enemy of romance.” So what happened?

As the story progresses, we see the many facets of Artemis’s character, learning about her motivations and ultimately why she is now so different from Hestia’s memories. (Even the airhead moments are accounted for.) Since the whole movie revolves around Artemis, it would have fallen apart if her character didn’t work. Admittedly, the idea of the mysterious woman in an anime movie is one that’s been used time and again. That means there are few surprises for those who have seen similar films. Still, as a one-off (so far), she leaves her mark upon Bell and the audience.

The reward for freeing the spear turns out not to be a free vacation but a monster hunt. Antares, a great beast that had once been sealed away, has broken free and now threatens everyone. The spear is the only way to stop the creature, so Bell and his friends travel to the forest where the ruined castle lies. Once there, they battle hordes of strange, scorpion-like creatures, find help in the form of the Hermes Familia, and yes, ultimately fight to save the world.

In standard series fashion, the battles are rough affairs. It’s not just the brutal massacre in the prologue either. From the first encounter with the black scorpions to the final struggle against Antares, the odds are overwhelming. The camera work is solid as always, but the sound effects are what really convey the harshness of battle. Every clash of steel is felt. The crumbling of dead monsters is crushing. Even when the scorpions hatch from their eggs, they land on the ground with a troublingly heavy thump. It’s a visceral experience. When the hard-earned victory comes at least, it leaves everyone exhausted, on-screen and off.

Fortunately, the brutal action is always offset by plenty of lighthearted comedy. Hestia still gets into silly squabbles with Lili over Bell and gets jealous when she cannot ride with Bell when travelling. She also turns into a stuttering mess when asked directly by Artemis what Bell means to her. At least it’s not just Hestia providing the relief. Hermes gets in on the action, too. Since no male, god or mortal, has ever seen Artemis naked, he encourages and leads his fellows in an “noble” attempt to breach the women’s bath. He predictably fails in his endeavor and his punishment is amusingly fitting.

In addition to such scenes that make viewers laugh, the movie is also capable of heartfelt moments. Of particular note is the lake sequence where Bell and Artemis bond, dancing amidst fireflies, while a wonderfully beautiful vocal song plays. The whole thing is simple, bordering on cliche, but it still works, dammit. Viewers also see more flashbacks of Bell as a child, wanting to perform heroic deeds. Of course, actually becoming a hero is never so straightforward, and you can’t help but feel for him in those moments. Plus, during one pivotal battle, the music intentionally plays with the audience’s emotions. Describing it further would spoil what happens in the scene, but it fits perfectly.

At Anime Expo 2019, all attendees received a free movie poster, showing Bell, Artemis, and Hestia at the top and a still from the Bell and Artemis dance on the bottom. The movie’s tagline, according to the poster, is “Better Level Up,” which works, in a way. Plus, after the film ended, it was revealed that members of the production team were in the audience, judging reactions. It was noted that the Anime Expo audience laughed in different spots than the Japanese audiences who saw the movie earlier in the year. That’s due to cultural difference, but hey, a laugh’s a laugh. Anyway, those fans who were not able to make to the expo will still be treated to some special behind-the-scenes content, so look forward to it.

Overall, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion has all the action, comedy, and heartfelt moments one would expect from the franchise’s first film. It’s also the perfect complement to the recently returned second season. Is it wrong to have so much of the franchise all at once? Not at all, goddess. Not at all.