The controls certainly take getting used to at first, especially the timing required for the combos but once you do get the hang of it then they're are pretty much spot on.

As for the main character, it does seem like she turns quite a few people away, my flat mate for instance but i think as long as you realise that she is supposed to be outlandish and very much over-the-top in line with the rest of the game that you just accept that's how it is.