MMFF 2018 Movie Review : "The Girl In The Orange Dress" is Slick, Sweet and Seriously Good

Anna, a conservative girl wakes up in bed in a 5-star hotel room with Rye, the biggest celebrity actor of the country and has no memory of how she got there. Now she has to avoid and escape the media and fans swarming outside the hotel, along with Cacai, her best friend who has given her whole life to loving Rye. 

The Girl in the Orange Dress ventures into a reverse-courtship -- getting to know and falling in love after a night of intoxication, into stereotypes and perceptions that break down walls, into friendships that know no bounds, and into love that withstands the price and baggage of fame. (Quantum Films)

This slick romcom from director Jay Abello boasts some believable performances from it's two leads, Jessy Mendiola and Jericho Rosales. Jericho plays Rye in a cool, calm and classy manner that perfectly matches Jessy's frantic and worrisome Anna. In addition to their great portrayal of their characters, the two leads are also oozing with chemistry on screen. Ria Atayde, Sheena Halili and  Hannah Ledesma did a good job of portraying Anna's close friends. Their subplot added more emotion to the story. I also enjoyed watching Juan Miguel Severo, Kai Cortez and Nico Antonio playing some media reporters hungry of  getting some scoop out of the two.

Director Jay Abello manages to create some really cute and romantic moments for the two that will make audiences giddy and delighted. The way that the story unfolded was really genius, with the main plot happening in a matter of the whole day. But what really surprised me was the fact that he was also able to turn this romance tale into an exciting and heart-pounding cat and mouse chase as Rye and Anna try to evade fans and reporters who are trying to catch up on them inside the hotel.

This MMFF entry has the complete formula for the perfect romcom. No wonder it's my favorite entry from this festival so far this year. It's slick, sweet and seriously good. Someone's catching up for the category of the best local romcom of 2018.

Rating: 10/ 10 • Verdict: Must Watch

Verdict: Must Watch • Highly Recommended • Entertaining • Tolerable • Boring • 

Like us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MoviesForMillennials/

Follow us on Instagram:

https://instagram.com/moviesformillennialsph

Follow me on my personal account:

https://instagram.com/ace_antipolo

"Little Italy" Movie Review: Delicious and Delightful

Emma Roberts and Hayden Christensen star in "Little Italy"

It's 1999. Best friends Sal and Vince pool their talenta and secret family recipes to give Little Italy its most storied pizza. One day a terrible fight breaks out between the two. No one knows why. But Little Italy is never the same again and neither is its pizza. A wall now runs between the once fabled pizza. Pizza Napoli is now divided into Vince's Pizza - The Best and Sal's Pizza - It's Better.

Present day. Nothing has changed. Sal and Vince spend more time trying to sabotage one another's shops than focus on their own business. But not everyone wants ear. Love blossoms in Little Italy's cobblestoned piazzas between Sal's daughter Nikki and Vince's son Leo. Nikki is now a Cordon Bleu chef freshly returned from London. She and Leo, a pizza chef who dreams of owning his own organic pizza place, rekindle their childhood crush right under their oblivious father's eyes.

But what if Sal and Vince decides and succeeds in pitting their children against each other? Will their love become the victim or  emerge victorious in this ridiculously epic food feud?

"Little Italy", directed by Donald Petrie and starring Emma Roberts and Hayden Christensen, is your typical romcom complete with rooftop dances, music video styled ronantic sequences (at least they've got Shawn Mendes singing his single "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" in the background) and of course, a last minute airport chase. We can't deny the fact thar this film is cluttered with these romance film cliches. At least the film is aware of that and whole-heartedly embraces it. But despite being cliched and predictable, the film manages to be entertaining.

The film is peppered with fun and hilarious moments that will make you smile and laugh a bit. Its Romeo and Juliet-inspired story may not be fresh and unique, but "Crazy Rich Asians" didn't have a very original plot either yet it managed to be fun and enjoyable. Plus, this film kinda reminded me of those romcoms from the 90's and early 2000's, giving out this nostalgic vibes. Emma Roberts and Hayden Christensen looked good together and has some pretty nice chemistry. Fans of Emma will surely enjoy this one. Audiences will surely love Andrea Martin and Daniel Aiello as another pair of clandestine lovers.

"Little Italy" is a predictable yet fun and very entertaining old-fashioned romcom with some really nice performances from its stars. It's a delicious and delightful mix of cheesy romance and tasteful comedy.
"Little Italy" is showing in Philippine cinemas October 3, 2018 from Go Asia Entertainment.

Rating: 8/10

Movie Review : Mr. & Mrs. Cruz (2018)

After the surprise box-office smash hit of 2017, Kita Kita, director Sigrid Bernardo is back to give us another romance film that will surely give us the feels. Mr. & Mrs. Cruz stars JC Santos and Ryza Cenon as two strangers with similar surnames who cross paths during their soul-searching trip in Palawan. The film is produced by Viva Film who gave us last year's tearjerker, 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, together with Spring Films, the same team behind the movie Kita Kita.

The film follows two strangers, Raffy (JC Santos) and Gela (Ryza Cenon) who flew to Palawan to have some time alone and away from everything else. In a surprising twist of fate, both of them share the same surname: Cruz. This caused an assumption in every people they meet that they are a couple. Eventually, they decided to just pretend that they are a couple and started touring the province together, eventually learning one another's past heartbreaks and getting to know each other. The question is... will they still choose to stay together as Mr. and Mrs. Cruz by the end of their trip?

The film's premise may be a bit familiar to moviegoers as it will remind us of films like That Thing Called Tadhana (2015) or I'm Drunk, I Love you (2017). It features characters travelling around different places in the country as they try to find their-selves while on a road-trip. These road-themed romance films usually features one province, like Sagada (That Thing Called Tadhana) or La Union (I'm Drunk, I Love You) and incorporates the setting into it's story. This movie is no different from these films because the film's setting (Palawan, in this case) also plays a big role in the film's proceedings. Without spoiling anything, most of the movie (except some flashbacks) happened in Palawan-it starts and ends there. The film uses the amazing beauty of Palawan to it's advantage. Every scene is carefully framed and shot to make sure that it will highlight the beauty of the province. The film's shots of the Underground River are truly breathtaking. One can almost feel and taste the clear blue waters of Coron through it's majestic shots. The movie was indeed a great venue to promote the province of Palawan and it's tourist attractions.

The film had some weird moments where the two protagonist suddenly get isolated from the rest of the world. The two characters suddenly being left alone in a boat while cruising the Underground River. The two protagonists dancing while bubbles suddenly flew out of nowhere. As if everyone else around them didn't existed. But aside from these awkward moments, the film was really entertaining and is filled with scenes that will make audiences squeal.

The film's story is quite simple at first, but it gets complicated as we get to know these two characters more. There's more to their story before coming to the island, and this is where the film get's much of it's hugot. These two characters relive each other's past heartbreaks, bringing back all the drama and pain that they've tried so hard to forget. The good thing about this film is that the pain that these characters are experiencing felt so realistic. The actors are very capable in making us believe that these two characters are real humans like us and through them, we can definitely feel that pain. Anyone who has loved before can definitely relate to their characters.

There were some very short moments that admittedly was feeling a bit slow, but they're not that noticeable when looking back at the movie as a whole. The good thing about the movie is that director Sigrid made sure that it takes it's time in building up our two protagonists, Raffy and Gela. Each one's past is slowly revealed through the two character's discussions and conversations. At first, this setup might look boring but JC Santos and Ryza Cenon did a pretty good job in giving life to these characters that we are so hooked to hearing more of their stories and learning more about their lives before. Their self-aware characters were really fun to watch as they deconstruct different concepts of love and marriage and stereotypes of romance and relationships. 

The two of them make for a great pair onscreen. Ryza Cenon was amazing as Gela. This movie was a great way to showcase her acting prowess because her talent was on full display here. In one of the film's most memorable moments inside a bar where the two protagonist are discussing about their pasts while drinking, she shined in her character as she played it with full conviction. JC Santos always impressed me every time I see him in the big screen. From his heartbreaking performance as Fidel in 100 Tula Para Kay Stella last year, he was able to transform into a whole new character with Raffy. He has this great sensibility which aptly matches Ryza Cenon's.

Though not as impactful as director Sigrid's previous effort Kita Kita, the film's ending will still leave a mark in audience's hearts as we watch a fairy-tale come to it's conclusion. The realistic ending borders between sad and hopeful, it's as if the movie is asking us to think what are the possibilities long after the credits roll. It has this lasting effect on you, and it will keep you thinking: what will happen next? 

All in all, the film is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. It is another great addition to director Sigrid's profile as a director, and a great showcase of talent for it's cast.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰  of 5

"Loving In Tandem" (2017) movie review

Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber star in "Loving In Tandem"

After winning last year's season of Pinoy Big Brother, big winner Maymay Entrata together with her ex-housemates Edward Barber, Kisses Delavin and Marco Gallo all entered the show-business and had their own acting projects. Maymay became part of the cast of the hit fantasy series La Luna Sangre while Kisses and Marco became part of the latest season of the children show Wansapanataym. And now, for the very first time, they are starring their first feature film under Star Cinema. Loving in Tandem (2017) is directed by Giselle Andres and also stars MayWard’s fellow “Pinoy Big Brother Lucky Season 7” former housemates Kisses Delavin and Marco Gallo.

Screenshots from the trailer

"Loving In Tandem" follows the story of Shine (Maymay Entrata), a positive and determined girl who will do everything for her family. She meets the balikbayan Luke (Edward Barber) in the most unusual circumstance and later on finds herself experiencing various stages of love – as they get closer. With a bit of a language barrier getting in the way (or not, really), the two accidentally put themselves in an awkward (but nonetheless, kilig!) situation when Luke announced in their entire barangay that Shine is his “JOWA". Will the language of their hearts triumph over whatever differences Shine and Luke have? How will they change each other’s lives? [Source: Star Cinema]

To be honest, everything about the movie's look, from the poster to the trailers, made me think of the movie as just another generic romcom. It has all the makings of the typical Star Cinema movie we saw years before: from the badly photo-shopped poster, to that soundtrack that will pound your ears every time the two lovers would have a sweet moment, to the newly minted teen stars in it's lead. But surprisingly, the film exceeded my expectations.

When I watched the film, I actually had no idea what the story of the film would be. The trailers that Star Cinema released featured some of the best moments of the film but doesn't reveal much of the movie's plot. I think Star Cinema has learned the art of making a good trailer because the ones they're releasing now are mostly vague and short but has enough stuff to attract the curiosity of people to actually see the movie. So if you haven't watched the film, you should stop right here because of spoilers ahead. Shine, played by Maymay Entrata, is your typical romcom heroine: jolly, hardworking, has a big love for her family, and yeah, financially challenged. In dire need of money for the medical expenses of her sick nephew, she ends up joining a gang of thieves. This is where she encounters Luke, played by Edward Barber, a FilAm boy who was sent to the Philippines to be with his mother after his father died in the States.  After several twists and turns, their paths crosses one another which led to a wacky and kilig-filled journey where the two of them learn and understand the value of family, friends, and one's self.

The twists and turns of the film sometimes comes out unbelievable and mostly far fetched. This is the reason why I initially had the feeling as if I'm watching a Wattpad love story adapted into a movie. But despite the implausibilities of the film's story, it slowly becomes simple and acceptable along the way. Like most of Star Cinema's films, it highlights the value of family. Both characters have to deal with issues with their own families. Luke hates his mother for leaving him and his father when he was young so now, he doesn't want to have any relationship with her and his step-brothers. Instead, he wants to go back to the States and live by himself. On the other hand, Shine has to support her over-dependent older brother (played by Ketchup Eusebio) and his family. Luke's story is already familiar with us, but it was Shine's subplot is the one that really stick with you. It was the first time I saw this kind of story used in a Star Cinema movie and it was so refreshing. She feared that if she stop supporting his brother and his family, they will stop loving her because she doesn't have any worth any more for them. It was really heartbreaking, but so true. I for one can relate to her character in so many ways. I also liked the way the story wrapped because it was hysterically funny but not too over the top unlike some movies. The ending was simple, but it was effective and it doesn't feel so forced nor rushed nor corny (remember the cringe-worthy final shot My Ex and Whys?). And that made it so memorable for me.

The film may come off a bit over-the-top during it's first few minutes because of it's twists and turns. But it's simple moments that really shine out the most. The film is more effective when it doesn't try too hard, and instead, just rely to it's likable characters to carry the rest of the movie. Kisses Delevin and Marco Gallo turned out to be okay in their very first film outing. They have their own kilig moments and although Marco may need to work more on his acting skills, the two of them were able to carry their characters pretty well. Ryan Bang has never been this funny and adorable. Edward Barber was actually good for a first time, given that he didn't have any background in acting (like his partner). His role really fits him and the story, so despite those awkward moments when he tries to speak in Tagalog in his foreign accent, it was still acceptable. But the real star of the show is Maymay Entrata who single-handedly carries the rest of the film with her committed performance. She gives out all her best, making her portrayal of Shine believable and really entertaining. Honestly, she's like a female version of Joshua Garcia, and has a great future ahead of her when it comes to acting, given the right people and the right material to work with.

I'm not gonna lie, this movie is way more romantic than most of Star Cinema's recent releases. I was literally shrieking out of delight and kilig all throughout the film. Maymay and Edward has a tremendous amount of chemistry between the two of them. And director Giselle Andres knows exactly how to bring that chemistry out of the two. The screen is oozing with kilig whenever they're together.

"Loving In Tandem" is one unexpected treat that is sweet, charming, funny and undeniably entertaining. Star Cinema definitely hit the right notes with this movie. It promises kilig, and you will definitely get what you've paid for. 




Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
"Loving In Tandem" (2017)
Directed by Giselle Andres,
starring Maymay Entrata & Edward Barber

"Love You to the Stars and Back" (2017) Movie Review

Julia Barretto & Joshua Garcia stars in "Love You To The Stars And Back"

I've been a fan of Antoinette Jadaone since 2014 after seeing her romantic coming-of-age film Relaks, It's Just Pag-ibig (twice). The independent feature, starring newcomers Inigo Pascual, Sofia Andres, and Julian Estrada, is one of the best local romance films I've seen and is still one of my favorite. I'm also a fan of That Thing Called Tadhana starring Angelica Panganiban and JM De Guzman, but Relaks will always have a special place in my heart. This year, Jadaone is back in another romantic coming-of-age story, but featuring well-known actors and with support from a major film company, Star Cinema. Fresh from the success of their critically-acclaimed box-office MMFF hit Vince and Kath and James (2016), Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia returns to the big screen in Antoinette Jadaone's Love you to the Stars and Back (2017).

Feeling out place in her own home, an eccentric and socially awkward girl, Mika (Julia Barretto), decides to go on a road trip with a very strange goal – to look for aliens. In her trip, Mika accidentally bumps into a simple and good-humored boy, Caloy (Joshua Garcia), whom she chooses to give a free ride to until he reaches his destination. Mika is surprised to know that Caloy has cancer. But despite his condition, he has learned to accept his fate and remained positive and joyful. The two embark on a roadtrip filled with adventures and misadventures, not knowing that it will lead them to experiencing their most memorable romance at such a young age. They unexpectedly teach each other an important lesson on love and life – one that takes most people a lifetime to learn. [Star Cinema]

We've seen a lot of romance films tackle disease-stricken protagonists before, from the colorful musical like Moulin Rouge! (2001), the gut-wrenching classic A Walk to Remember (2002) and the latest young adult fiction The Fault In Our Stars (2014). In her latest film, Antoinette Jadaone uses this cliched and overtly used stroyline to make one of the year's best local films, period. Though the idea of having one character having cancer is an integral part of the storyline, director/ writer Jadaone don't overuse it to the point that it's being slapped in your face. Instead, she uses this as a way to bring the story and it's characters together in an emotional journey, literally and figuratively. The film is like a re-imagining of her film Relaks, It's Just Pag-ibig and That Thing Called Tadhana. Both films focus on two characters travelling together and slowly falling for each other. But this film has more resemblance to Relaks because it's characters are both young people (below/ early their 20's). Also, both Relaks and LYSB follow it's main characters as they wander to different places, gets involved in other people's lives and learn new things.

Both Mika and Caloy are both well-developed characters. We get some background of each character's lives before they meet each other in a short span of time, giving us enough information to get to know them. Then, as the film progresses, we get to dig deeper into their personal lives and what each of them are going through. Although it does need a bit of suspension of disbelief before you can fully commit to the idea of a character trying to get taken away by aliens. But once you get past that, you are in for one hell of a roadtrip. Director Antoinette Jadaone's script is witty and humorous. On top of that, her direction of the material is also adept. She really excels in eliciting laughs from the audiences. And she's also really good when it comes to making people cry a river inside the cinemas.

Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia shines once again in this movie which serves as their reunion project, being this their second movie together. Julia Barretto is so amazing in her portrayal of Mika. Aside from being a pretty face, she proved to everyone that she can act in last year's Vince and Kath and James. And now, she's done it again. You can really feel her character's pain through her eyes, and we can't help but sympathize with her. Joshua Garcia is a total revelation in VKJ and he continues to wow us in this movie. The way he throws his lines were so raw and it felt to real to me. The camera loves him. The way he smiles will surely send shivers down your spine but once he cries, you'll be melting with pity. He has this adorable and irresistible charm similar to John Lloyd Cruz, no wonder he's being compared to him by critics and audiences alike. One of my most favorite scene was this part when he tried to reconnect to his estranged father, only to be driven away and rejected. His monologue scene at his dad's house was just so heart-wrenching and painful to watch that I couldn't stop myself from crying.

Also, Julia and Joshua has really great chemistry and director Jadaone was able to squeeze all that oozing sweetness between the two onscreen. I remember this scene (which was featured in the trailer) where Mika was holding a chicken in her hand and she tells it that it's mommy and daddy's here. That scene was one of the most sweetest and nakakakilig moments in a local film I've seen this year. I can't contain the kilig I was feeling while watching this film that there were a lot of instances that I was already shrieking with joy along with the other audiences inside the cinema.

The film's cinematography and musical design was also really beneficial to the overall look and feel of the film. The film features a lot of beautiful locations and gets a lot out of these places to make the film more appealing to travelers among the audience. Though I must take note of the shaky camera shots in the film. Some of the scenes really looked good, but there were a lot of instances that the shaking camera shots were a bit distracting. This was evident in the screening where I watched the film because I kept on hearing some of the audience member's whisper that the shakiness of the shots were nauseating. The film features the Moonstar88 2000 song Torete (in a cover by Moira Dela Torre) as it's main official soundtrack and it used the film to it's maximum effect. When the film has finally ended and the credits were already rolling, I can help but sing along to the song during the end credits.

Antoinette Jadaone's Love you to the Stars and Back (2017) is one amazing romantic coming-of-age movie that reminds us of her great skills as a director and writer, and also serves as a proof that the JoshLia (Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto) tandem is a loveteam to watch out for. It's a movie that is full of laughter and pain, oozing with kilig and tears. It's something that shouldn't be missed.




Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5

"Love You To The Stars And Back" (2017)

Directed by Antoinette Jadaone, starring Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia

Kita Kita (2017) movie review

Empoy Marquez & Alessandra De Rossi stars in "Kita Kita" (Screenshot from the trailer)

There's one film that everyone's talking about these past few days. And surprisingly, it's not a Star Cinema romcom. It's not even featuring one of today's hottest love teams. But it is a certified blockbuster. The movie is "Kita Kita"

I've been looking forward to Sigrid Andrea Bernardo's Kita Kita (I See You) ever since I've learned about it months ago. Especially after finding out that it's going to feature Alessandra De Rossi in the lead role since I've been sort of a fan of her after seeing her in Relax, It's Just Pag-ibig (2014) and Sakaling Hindi Makarating (2016). What added to my curiosity was her leading man in this film which turned out to be Empoy Marquez. Now, that's interesting.

Lea (Alessandra De Rossi) and Tonyo (Empoy Marquez) are two Filipinos living in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Lea is a Velo taxi tour guide. She suffers an accident which leads to her being affected by temporary blindness. Her blindness, if not cured in a few weeks, could become permanent. Tonyo is also a Filipino who lives right across from Lea. Lea tries her best to ignore him at first because she is scared of not seeing him. But Tonyo is persistent and is determined to be her friend, using humor and kindness to make a connection. With every effort that he makes the two gradually become closer. In an ironic way, becoming blind allows Lea to see the true character of Tonyo.(Source: Osaka Film Festival)

After reading the synopsis, one would usually conclude that it's story isn't that new anymore and that's it's pretty common in the romcom genre. Plus the trailer itself actually felt like it was giving away too much of the story already, which most of the time turns off audiences from actually seeing the film. But to my surprise, this synopsis and the trailer was actually just the tip of the film's story. It offers more than what we see from these trailers and movie summary. It's spin on the romcom genre is unique, fresh and quite amusing. And it will surely surprise you once you go and see it for yourself.

To start with, watching Empoy and Alessandra De Rossi as love team really needs one's suspension of disbelief. You have to realize that Lea is blind here, so she has no idea how Tonyo actually looks like in person. So it is inevitable  for her to fall for him. After letting yourself give in to it's story and just go with it's flow, that's where the movie becomes charming and delightful.

Unlike most romcom movies nowadays, Sigrid Bernardo's script doesn't focus too much on characters throwing hugot lines to pinch it's audiences' heart and to bring up sad memories of one's past love to get our interest. Instead, it opted to show two ordinary people hanging out together while touring the beautiful city of Sapporo, Japan, while slowly getting to know each other. The story seems simple at first, but as the movie progresses, we start to discover the real story behind one of the characters, and it changes everything we thought about this character. I must admit that I have a little bit of an idea about this revelation right from the very start. But still, Sigrid Bernardo's script surprised me the way she weaved the two character's story together. That final twist really came out of nowhere and I honestly didn't see it coming. That is how talented director Sigrid Bernardo is.

There's a great distinction that everyone for sure would notice when watching mainstream and indie films in general. In mainstream movies, the ones produced and released by big house movie companies in the country, we watch beautiful actors and actresses play ordinary people. Imagine Liza Soberano playing an ugly duckling in a film (just an example. Don't worry. I love Liza with all my heart). In contrast, when we watch indie films, we see the characters, not the actors playing them. This is most likely because indie films tend to get actors who actually looked the part. They don't feel manufactured for the sake of looking like the character they portray. And I guess this is a plus points for independent films as it adds realism to the movie. In this case, we get Empoy Marquez playing the not-so-good-looking kababayan Tonyo. No offense but let's admit it, he definitely looks the part. And I guess that's what makes him perfect for the role.

Who knew that Empoy would become a leading man in a film someday? But what really surprised me was there oozing chemistry between him and his leading lady, Alessandra De Rossi. The two of them actually complements each other. Empoy plays the fun and always determined guy while Alessandra De Rossi is the moody and always serious girl who always rejects his advances. Alessandra De Rossi proved her versatility as an actor with the shift of genre, from the roadtrip drama Sakaling Hindi Makarating to a cute romcom in Kita Kita. Her portrayal of Lea during the character's introdcution at the beginning of the film was simple yet so natural. She immediately grabbed my attention and got me hooked from the very start until the end.  Just like what I've previously stated in my review of Sakaling hindi Makarating, she's undeniably one of the best, yet most underrated actresses in the industry today. The two of them really make a good match. Although Alessandra and Empoy being paired together might seem like a gamble at first, it works. And it works so well that it's exceeding everyone's expectations.

The film also benefited a lot from it's location. The whole story of the film happens around the city of Sapporo, which is rich with gorgeous places that makes every scene picturesque. I especially loved the scene where the two of them were wandering around a filed of colorful flowers. The place really made a very big impact on making that scene so memorable because of it's delightful aura. Then, there's also the wonderful soundtrack of the film featuring KZ Tandingan's cover of Two Less Lonely People In The World that stamped a final oomph! in the movie.

I don't know exactly what to feel after watching Kita Kita (2017). Yes, I must admit that the ending was sad (which is why a lot of people admitted that they cried after the movie. But the film is too beautiful to be sad. And that's a good thing because that's what makes the experience of seeing it memorable. It's a funny, charming, delightful type of entertainment that will leaves a smile in your lips (or a tear in your eye for others). It's an unconventional movie with a heart, overflowing with charm that never overstays it's welcome.

Source: Kita Kita Facebook page

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Kita Kita (2017)
Starring Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy Marquez,
directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

Can We Still Be Friends (2017) movie review

Gerald Anderson and Arci Munoz in "Can We Still Be Friends"
Screenshot from the trailer

From lovers to friends? Is it really possible?

This is the central theme of director Prime Cruz' first foray into mainstream filmmaking, aptly titled Can We Still Be Friends. Prime Cruz, who rose to fame after his audience favorite indie romance film Sleepless, about two insomniac outbound call center agents spending their nights together, is now entering the mainstream scene with this movie. This time, he works with two of the most bankable actor and actress of this generation, Gerald Anderson and Arci Munoz, to bring us a story that I'm pretty sure a lot of us can relate to.

"Can We Still Be Friends?" is centered on Digs (Gerald Anderson) – a no fuss, no frills kind of guy – and idealistic achiever Sam (Arci Muñoz) who are friends turned lovers turned exes. Their relationship as a couple lasted for almost eight years until they both decided on an amicable breakup. As they face the dating world separately, the ex-couple consistently check on each other under the guise of “friendship.” This turns into a competition on who will find a new relationship first only to find out that one of them is still in love with the other. Directed by Prime Cruz and with a screenplay written by Jen Chuaunsu, “Can We Still Be Friends?” is a love story that celebrates the indomitable millennial spirit as it attempts to ask the proverbial question: can exes really be friends? "Can We Still Be Friends?" also assembles a remarkable millennial supporting cast led by Bryan Santos, Ria Atayde, Brian Sy, Gege Severo, Erika Padilla, Markki Stroem, and Emmanuelle Vera. [Source: Star Cinema]

I have to be honest with you, I was expecting that the film would feel a bit different from the previous movies released by Star Cinema. But after actually sitting through the movie, I was totally overwhelmed. It felt nothing like any Star Cinema produced film I've seen before. It was like an indie film in disguise of a colorful mainstream romantic film. it was weird, in a really good way. The problem with most mainstream films nowadays is that they always follow a pattern. A stereotype. A cliche. Most romance films would usually involve some weird or overly dramatic story line, like it's taken out of a Wattpad story (don't get me wrong, I love Wattpad since I also write stories there at times). Most Pinoy romance films usually have a grandiose love story about a boy and a girl who would face odds to fight for their love. But at least, one in a while, we get some romcom movies that just wants to tell a simple story about simple people living simple lives- in short, a movie about real people. One that a lot can relate to. And Prime Cruz does exactly that.

The first few minutes of the film, I was already whispering to myself: this can't be from Star Cinema. It's just way too impossible. But yeah, believe it or not, it is. Thank God.

If you've watched Prime Cruz' prior work, the lovely indie fave Sleepless (2015), you'll notice his distinct way of filmmaking. And with Can We Still Be Friends, we can clearly see traces of that filmmaking. Long, lingering shots. Quiet scenes without any dialogues. Prime Cruz direction is so unique that his final product feels so refreshing and original (which is mostly because we are so used to watching mainstream movies and a lot of us are not that into the indie style of filmmaking). I love the way that he builds up the film's two main characters, with the film's first few minutes only showing the everyday life of Digs and Sam living together. From the usual conversation between two people, to those small irritating things that we tend to do (like forgetting to refill empty bottles of water in the fridge, which I am so guilty), the way he creates and molds these two characters and their world is so simple and ordinary that everything felt so real. Their characters are very well-established and developed that you actually root for them. Unlike most movies, Digs and Sam behave and act like real people, and not just stereotype characters who are manipulated like chess pieces along the way.

Another strength of the film is it's leads. Gerald Anderson have already proven to us that he is a capable actor, with his highly applauded films Always Be My Maybe (the first movie he was paired with Arci) and How To Be Yours (2016) which is my favorite. His approach to his character, Digs, is simple, yet truthful. He doesn't come too over-the-top unlike those romantic dramas where the guy ends up throwing a very powerful and emotional line to make the film memorable (and campy) during it's climax. He's just, I guess, chill like most average guys are. Arci Munoz plays the perky girlfriend Sam. Her character provides most of the film's humor, and she deserves credit for making the film more fun for all of us. Arci Munoz really shines the most in this movie, as she entertains us for the rest of the film. Gerald Anderson's Budoy joke and strip dancing was quite entertaining for a while, but it was her relatable rants about pancit canton and traffic in EDSA and funny quotes which kept the audience engaged. The two of them just looked so good together on screen. There's oozing chemistry between the two and director Prime Cruz knows how to squeeze all that juice out of the couple. The supporting cast were also good, but the one that would really catch your attention is Juan Miguel Severo. His lines will always pull out a laugh or two from the audience. I guess he always nails the part of the gay best friend, and I'd love to see him do more. And that wedding vow that he wrote for the film, it was just so affecting and lovely.

With a witty and inteligent script by Jen Chuaunsu mixed with calculated and gorgeous cinematography and a cute soundrack featuring Toni Gonzaga's rendition of the song of the same name, this simple yet truthful take on every millennial couple's lives today is definitely relatable and undeniably entertaining.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰ of 5

Can We Still Be Friends (2017)

Starring Gerald Anderson and Arci Munoz, 

Directed by Prime Cruz