Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino : "Bar Boys" (2017) movie review

"The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things.”

“Kung hindi ka natatalo, hindi ka na gumagalaw.”

This quote from from the movie perfectly sums up the life of almost everyone of us.

College life is one of the most crucial phases in a person's life. A lot of first times happen during these years. It's the point of life when you start realizing that you are finally become an adult. This is also the time when one discovers his/ her real self. That's why a lot of us can really relate to the Kip Oebanda's youth-priented film Bar Boys (2017). I've learned about this film way back 2016 after seeing it's trailer and I was already looking forward to watching it back then. It took a year before the film finally got picked up for distribution through Quantum Films, after it was selected to be one of the twelve entries for the very first Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Described as an academic law school comedy-drama, the film follows a barkada of  four and their lives after they enter college (or some of them). The film is produced by TropicFrills Film Productions in cooperation with Wild Sound Studios and SM Foundation and features an ensemble cast starring Rocco Nacino, Carlo Aquino, Enzo Pineda and Kean Cipriano, together with Odette Khan and Anna Luna.

The film opens with one of the most unique and witty credit sequences I've seen in a local film, where a barkada of four young men are about to play against another group in an online battle. Here we are introduced to Christian (Enzo Pineda), Erik (Carlo Aquino), Joshua (Kean Cipriano) and Toran (Rocco Nacino). After losing in the said game, the four of them patiently waits for the results of the college entrance exam for the law school they all applied for. But only, Christian, Erik and Toran passed the admission exam. After this, we follow the three young men as they enter law school and how their lives are drastically changed by this new world. Here, they have to endure fraternity initiations to terror teachers, on top of their own problems with their families and relationships.

To start off, the characters we follow in the film are quite familiar already to us. Torran Garcia (Rocco Nacino) is the cool guy in the barkada, witty and always gets very lucky. Chris Carlson (Enzo Pineda) is the group's rich amboy whose father (also a lawyer) keeps on trying to mold him to be his clone. Erik Vicencio (Carlo Aquino) is the not so privileged guy of the group, a son of an elderly security guard whose biggest dream is for his son to become a lawyer, whatever it takes. Then, there's Joshua Zuniga (Kean Cipriano), the slacker of the group who ends up failing to pass the admission exam and gets left out by his peers. But despite being archetypes, these characters are very relatable and interesting in their own ways. This is because director/ writer Kip Oebanda made sure that each one of them (with the exception of Josh) will get his own story line to follow.

Torran ends up joining a frat, Chris has to hide his relationship with his girlfriend from his demanding father and Erik has to deal with financial issues, on top of having a hard time in school despite working his ass off in studying. Of all these three characters, I did not expected to end up falling for Erik (Carlo Aquino). It was his story that really hit me hard that I end up crying for him while watching the film. I guess it's because it's him that I could really relate to. I could really see myself in his shoes because we share the same story. I also had difficulty going through my college life due to financial issues, causing me to stop my studies and get a job instead of finishing college. But unlike me, Erik pushed through with his study despite the hardships.

Kip Oebanda's script was very witty and funny. Despite having to juggle three separate yet connected story lines for each of the three main characters, he was able to make the whole movie coherent. He had these segments for each characters, some focusing on each individual character's life at home or at school, and some while they are together. I loved those moments whenever Toran is at home with his mom (played by Patay Na Si Hesus' Mailes Kanapi) because they're always hilarious. There's also some heartwarming moments featuring Erik and his Dad at home as they struggle to keep him at school. We also get to see Chris and his quirky girlfriend (played by Unrequited's Anna Luna) while they try their best to keep their relationship despite his father's orders. But my most favorite would be those moments when they are inside the classroom, dealing with their terror teachers. These would be those scenes with a gay professor, Atty. Victor Cruz (played by 4 Days' Sebastian Castro) who has a crush on Erik which led to one of the most hilarious moments of the film. Then, there's those scenes with the classic terror professor that every student is mostly afraid of Atty. Hernandez (played in a wonderful performance by Odette Khan).

But aside from the usual comical gags, the film also tackles some really serious matter. Friendships will be strained. Family issues will get more complicated. Their morals will get tested. Slowly, these characters start to grow as individuals. Far different from the young guys they were before when they first entered the campus. This is what makes Bar Boys so endearing to watch. It's a classic coming-of-age story hidden underneath a hilarious comedy-drama about law school. You don't realize that you get so invested with these characters that you also grow as they move forward and turn into adults who are about to face the world. There's lots of lessons to be learned from this movie which makes it a must watch for younger people.

I must commend that this is the best ensemble I've seen in this year's Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Aside from the main cast, the supporting actors were all perfect for their roles. Mailes Kanapi was a delightful surprise as Toran's crazy and funny mother. Anna Luna was also fun to watch as the English-challenged direct salesgirl Rachel (girlfriend of Chris). Sebastian Castro was a stand-out as the gay professor Atty. Cruz. His office scene where Erik tries to seduce him (I'm not gonna reveal a lot to avoid spoiling it) was downright insane and hysterically funny. and then, there's Odette Khan. I'm telling you, she was amazing.

Of course, the main cast deserves a lot of praise for fun performance in the film. Kean Cipriano didn't get a lot of screen time but he was fun to watch as Josh. Enzo Pineda was good in playing the amboy rich kid Chris. Rocco Nacino played his role of Toran with ease. But it was Carlo Aquino who was the stand-out among the four. His portrayal of Erik was so affecting and heartfelt. I honestly did not expect that he will be my favorite character from this movie. I actually wished he and Sebastian Castro had more scenes together because I'm pretty sure their characters would be hilarious together. Also, I love how each of these characters had closure by the time the story ended. That ending is one of the best I've seen in a local film recently. It's was so inspiring and just perfect.

I guess this will be my top pick from this year's Pista ng Pelikulang Piilipino (next is Triptiko). Everything in this movie is just perfect, from it's slick, production design to it's awesome soundtrack (that sequence featuring APO Hiking Society's San Na Nga Bang Barkada triggered my memory of my school days!) to it's outstanding direction and bravura performances. Kip Oebanda's Bar Boys (2017) is no doubt my most favorite entry of all the films I was able to watch. It's a youth-oriented comedy drama, a coming-of-age story, and a throwback barkada flick rolled into one. For me, it's one of the best Filipino films of the year. This is the film in this year's PPP that I would love to give more than a perfect five star rating. It's a hilarious, heartwarming, emotional, and inspiring feel-good joyride that will leave more than what you expect.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Bar Boys (2017)
Directed by Kip Oebanda,
starring Carlo Aquino, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda and Kean Cipriano

***

The "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino" was a nationwide week-long celebration where all movie theaters exclusively screened Filipino films in line with the Buwan ng Wika. This festive event was organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines in partnership with theaters nationwide and ran from August 16-22, 2017.

Limited Edition "Lisyun Qng Geografia" DVD Now Available!

After the successful theatrical release of his first full length feature, 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten (Winner, 2016 Cinema One Originals Best Film), director Petersen Vargas revisits his first "baby" that catapulted his name and has earned him multiple honors here and abroad. Last week, his award-winning short film Lisyun Qng Geografia (Geography Lessons) was shown back to back with 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten during the latter's encore screenings at UP Film Theater, UP Diliman. Here, director Petersen Vargas has announced that he has teamed up with Vincent Aseo for the Limited Edition DVD of his short film, Lisyun Qng Geografia. The special and final DVD release of the short film includes 4 post cards specially designed by Vincent Aseo, a 30-page zine containing Tin and Tric's diary and a DVD containing the Lisyun Qng Geografia and other short films by Petersen Vargas.

They're now taking online orders for the LIMITED EDITION DVD package of Lisyun Qng Geografia. There are ONLY 50 COPIES for this last batch of releases so make sure to get yours while they last. You can order your copy here.

The complete of the LIMITED EDITION DVD of Lisyun Qng Geografia

The beautiful postcards designed by illustrator Vincent Aseo

Director Petersen Vargas and illustrator Vincent Aseo selling copies of the DVD and postcard
 at the encore screening of Lisyun Qng Geografia back to back with 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten
in UP Cine Adarna, UP Diliman last April 29, 2017

Director Petersen Vargas enthusiastically discussing the film
with some audiences after the screening

Me with director Petersen Vargas!

Director Petersen Vargas gave me a poster of Lisyun Qng Geografia as a gift!
Thank you so much, direk!

Lisyun Qng Geografia Movie Review

The saddest love stories are the ones that could have been but never were.

And what could be more sad than people falling in love with their best friend but not getting the same kind of love in return. This is the central theme of Petersen Vargas award-winning 2014 short film Lisyun Qng Geografia, which literally translates to Geography Lessons. The short film is one of Vargas' earliest works, two years ahead of his full length feature debut that catapulted him to fame amongst Filipino film enthusiast which is 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten (2016). But little did most of us knew that the 20-minute short film is the one that paved the way for him to earn a spot in the indie cinema scene here in the country after it earned him the Best Direction award at the 11th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

I've been trying to find a way to watch this short film since last year, after I became an avid fan of director Petersen. Luckily, this year, he revisits his baby for a limited encore screening of Lisyun in UP Diliman, back to back with his 2 Cool, followed by a special edition DVD release of the short film. And I was so lucky to finally get the chance of watching the short film and of course, I have to write my thoughts about it here in my blog. So here is my review of Petersen Vargas' Lisyun Qng Geografia.

The film follows Tib Apostol (Earl Policarpio), who finds an old map made by his estranged best friend from high school, Tric (Ross Pesigan). This triggers him to retrace all the places that are special to him and his friend, remembering how the their friendship fell apart along the way. Writer and director Petersen Vargas once said that this film was inspired by some of his real life experiences. I guess that is the main reason why the story felt so raw and authentic. The dialogues, so real and normal. The characters, flawed but honest. The circumstances that they encounter, very common in real life.

I love the way the story was written, especially how it was narrated. Instead of following the traditional pattern of a narrative, the story goes back and forth from the past to the present, slowly revealing what has happened before and it's consequences now. Because of this, the 20-minute duration of the film was put into good use. I also love how both characters were written. They looked and talked and acted just like how normal teenage boys would. They don't feel so manufactured for the sake of having empathetic characters. Instead, they're written with all honesty, and that what makes them relatable.

Earl Policarpio and Ross Pesigan did a wonderful job in bringing these characters to life. Their acting were really good, and their portrayal of Tib and Tric will tug your hearts out. Both of them complemented one another which adds more punch and pull to the interactions of the two characters. I guess the best example of this is the confrontation scene between the two, which is also my favorite scene in the film. The chemistry of both actors gives more impact to the scene, making it more intense and heartbreaking.

Technically, the film is more than marvelous. It's gorgeous cinematography, mostly composed of bluish toned palette of backgrounds, evokes a sense of calmness, reminiscent of those carefree days when we were still young and we didn't have to worry about bills or work or careers. Chill, that's the word that perfectly describes it's chosen color palette. The film's music also complemented this with it's serene and light soundtrack featuring the songs of Ourselves The Elves.

Although there's a two-year gap between Lisyun Qng Geografia and 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten, one would still notice the similarities of the two. There's a lot of scenes in 2 Cool that were references to Lisyun which  gives it a feeling that both films share the same universe. Both films tackle themes of homosexuality and self-awakening. But unlike 2 Cool which goes for a much darker territory, Lisyun chooses a much more quiet and subtle path which is grounded in reality.

Sweet, humorous and romantic, yet heart wrenching towards the end, the film is a perfect exploration of relationships between two people who share different feelings for each other. And with it's honest portrayal of love, anyone can definitely relate to the film. Yes, it is painful to watch, but it is also good and beautiful and unforgettable.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ out of 5

Lisyun Qng Geografia (2014)
Starring Earl Policarpio and Ross Pesigan,
Directed by Petersen Vargas
Winner, Best Direction-11th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival

2 Good, 2 Memorable, 2 Real : 2 COOL 2 BE 4GOTTEN

I initially intended to write a second review of Petersen Vargas' film 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten. But then, I changed my mind. I already wrote one before (you can check it out here) and I want to write something different this time. So I planned on writing an article arguing why the film doesn't deserve it's R-18 rating from the MTRCB. But eventually, I ended up here, writing an open letter to the people behind the film, on my thoughts about the movie (after rewatching it for seven times now) and how it affected my life, seriously.

Let me start from the very beginning.

Last year, I fell in love with Filipino indie films. I've been watching Pinoy indie flicks before but I wasn't much of a follower or a fan. Then, I saw Ice Idanan's Sakaling Hindi Makarating, an entry from the 2016 CineFilipino film Festival. I immediately loved the film (not realizing that it was co-written by Petersen Vargas too), and it prompted me to watch some other entries from the said festival. After that, I started looking for more Pinoy indie films to watch and the next one that got my attention was Nestor Abrogena's Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa. I tried to watch it then at Cinematheque Manila, but I didn't know the place so I got lost. Luckily, a new friend of mine (on Facebook) who is a blogger and film buff (let's just call him Jonell Estillore) brought me to this really cool place in Mandaluyong, Cinema '76, a micro-theater screening Filipino indie films. I was able to watch Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa and was blown away with it (that twist ending was Aca-mazing!). So since then, I've been visiting Cinema '76 once in a while to check out their line up of indie films.

Then around November 2016 came the 2016 Cinema One Originals. At first, I wasn't sure which film to pick since it was the first time that I will be watching a Cinema One Originals film fest entry. Plus the list of film titles that they released back then doesn't even have any summary nor genre description included. The first title that got my attention was this film called 2 cool 2 Be 4gotten. I thought it sounded weird but catchy. But I wasn't sure if I'm going to see it since I didn't know what it all about. So I thought I'd just wait for the festival itself, and check out the trailers they will have for each film. After a few days, the trailer for 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten was released. The trailer featured Khalil Ramos as the lead. I've been watching him since he became a finalist in Pilipinas Got Talent before, and I've seen him in a lot of films like She's Dating The Gangster, A Second Chance and Honor Thy Father. The film looked like a barkada type movie, a coming-of-age film (my weakness). The trailer was a bit mysterious (I even thought it was a mystery thriller, ha ha!), but it definitely convinced me to watch it. So I went to Trinoma the next day after I got out of work and went to buy a ticket for the Premier Night that same day. I was surprised when I found out that the screening was almost sold out. Luckily, I got a seat at the far left row. I actually wanted to sit in the middle as I always do when watching a movie inside the cinema but there wen't any available seats left.

November 17, 2016. I thought I was gonna be late for that night gala premiere at Cinema 1 of Trinoma. Lukicly, I got there before the screening started. And I have no idea that this night would turn out to be one of the most unforgettable moments of my life (wow, heavy!)

The cast and crew of the film during their gala premiere.
November 17, 2016. Cinema 1, Trinoma.

After watching the film, I even got the chance to meet the cast, Khalil Ramos, Ethan Salvador and Jameson Blake with their director Petersen Vargas. They were really cool and accommodating. They even stayed outside the cinema to take a photo op with the audiences who watched the film (even if the mall was already closing). After that, I headed for work. On my way, I still can't forget the movie. There is this weird feeling that lingers in me. I don't know what it is. I can't even explain it. I just felt connected to the film. This prompted me to watch the film for the second time during it's screening at Cinematheque Center Manila on November 20, 2016, Sunday. Then, after the film won the Best Picture award at the festival and earned itself another screening, I took that opportunity and watched it again. After seeing it for the second and third time, I finally realized why I felt so connected to the movie. I saw myself in Felix' character. We share some similarities to the point that some scenes in the film even reflect past events in my life (minus the part where he fell in love with his best friend Magnus and that sexually charged one-on-one with Maxim). I guess it triggered something in me. Something in my memory. Something painful. Something so close to my heart.

It was my best friend. One of the most coolest guy I met in my life. He was so close to me. He was the brother that I never had.

March 24, 2016. The day of my birthday. And yes, it was also Maundy Thursday. Probably the worst day to celebrate your birthday since you cannot even celebrate because it's Holy Week. You can't visit the mall because they're closed. You can't even eat any meat because you're fasting. That was the same day that I met him. Actually, I've been seeing him for some time now before that day. He got transferred to our department a few weeks back. I've been talking to him for a while but we were never close. He was this weird, silent kid. Pale white (like Magnus). He was always dressed up so well. So neat. Always sitting away from the rest of the team. But on that day, we became friends. He gave me this chocolate bar as a gift for my birthday and greeted me. That was the best thing that happened to me that day. When we went home, we took the bus together and we talked about a lot of stuff. Random stuff. I found out that we liked the same things, from superhero movies (Marvel vs. DC) to the bands that we listen to. We became really close since then.

Then months passed. We became best friends. We even had a codename. I called myself Steve Rogers and he was Bucky Barnes from Captain America. The greatest best friends in the Marvel universe. We celebrated his birthday by watching a movie together: Now You See Me 2. He would accompany me to SM North whenever I'm buying a new comic book at Filbars. He became a big influence in me. I started dressing up as well. Usually, you would see me coming to work wearing Tshirt. But since I started hanging out with him, I started wearing my polo and long sleeved shirts. I don't know. I had to look neat whenever I'm with him, I guess. I became so hooked with superhero movies and TV series. But after five months, everything changed.

He left the company. He had to go. 

August 8,2016. That was the last day I saw him.

It took a big toll on me. I was depressed for weeks. A month even. But after a while, I started to accept the fact that some things in this life just don't last a lifetime. Mostly, the good ones. After a few weeks, I was okay. I guess. Then, I saw this movie. And it brought back all my memories of him. My best friend. The first person that I treated as my own brother.

The movie's tagline was right. You will never forget your first. 

This movie brought all my memories of my best friend. All the happy ones. Even the sad ones. Never have I ever watched a movie that hit me so hard like 2 Cool. Okay. Let me clarify something first. I'm not gay. I'm straight. But I could really relate to Felix' character. He felt like a real person to me. Yeah, I fell in love with the character. Petersen Vargas and Jason Paul Laxamana created one of the best movie characters in history (for me). I became so attached to the character that for weeks, I suffered from separation anxiety from him after watching the movie. I guess that's the reason why I went to watch their two screenings of the film as part of the Cinema One Original's rerun at Cine Adarna, UPFI Film Center, UP Diliman last January. I also went to see the film during it's screening for the 5th Freedom Film Festival at De La Salle University last February (where director Petersen Vargas announced the film's nationwide release).

From L-R:
Khalil Ramos, Director Petersen Vargas, Jameson Blake, me and Producer Alemberg Ang
during the Cinema One Original's re-run at the
Cine Adarna, UPFI Film Center, UP Diliman. January 16, 2017.

I became dedicated in supporting Filipino indie films because of this movie. So I started this blog. Originally, I wanted to showcase those Filipino independent films here, but eventually I started including mainstream movies here as well after the success of the recent Metro Manila Film Festival. I wanted to show my support for the film and share it to other people. So I kept on telling my friends about this film and how it affected me, over and over again. When it was announced that the film will be having it's nationwide release on March 15, 2017, I couldn't be more excited. Finally, other people would be able to watch this film and experience how awesome it is. I kept on promoting it to my friends and other people I know. From Facebook, Twitter and even Instagram, I kept on posting about it to let others know how good this movie is.

But a day before the film screens in cinemas nationwide, something unexpected happened. Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) slammed it with a hard R-18 rating, meaning that the movie will only be shown to audiences 18 years old and above. This also means that the film's availability will be limited and the supposedly nationwide release that Star Cinema has announced weeks ago will not be possible. SM Cinema, the country's biggest movie theater chain has been showing the film's trailer days on every screening they have before the film's playdate, March 15 (I even saw it's trailer during a screening of the film Pwera Usog at SM Fairview). But because of the film's R-18 rating, they have removed the film from their line up. Originally given an R-16 rating, Petersen Vargas and the film's team appealed for a much lower (and obviously more appropriate) R-13 rating. But instead, the MTRCB slapped them with an R-18 rating. Only viewers who are 18 years old and above can be admitted in the film's screening. An “R-18” classification advises viewers, parents, and supervising adults that the film may contain any of the elements that may not be suitable for children below 18 years of age. 

No redeeming social value. Uhm... so coming out and discovering one's self has no value at all?
Wow. MTRCB. 👏👏👏#2Cool2Be4GottenNowShowing pic.twitter.com/tcoc6SvdOg— Felix Salonga (@theFelixSalonga) March 15, 2017

I couldn't be more frustrated. I was heartbroken. Not only for the film but for director Petersen Vargas. I remember during their Q&A at the 5th Freedom Film Festival after one of their screening that when he was young, he had always wanted to watch a movie like 2 Cool. But during his time, there weren't any Filipino movies like this. There weren't any movie that he can relate to his current situation. And so he dreamed of making a movie for those kids like him before. But because of the film getting an R-18 rating, those kids won't have the chance to see the film. Those kids whom he dedicated this film to.

feels like a cheat to have promised a "nationwide" release & yet find out this is as far your small, small film could go. breaks my heart.
— Petersen 4-Ever (@petersenvargas) March 14, 2017

I have seen 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten. Based on all the movies I've seen, and the ratings that came with them, it does not deserve an R-18.
— Phil Dy (@philbertdy) March 15, 2017

#2Cool2BeForgotten got an R-18 from MTRCB.
Di ipapalabas sa SM.
Because it's 'gay'.
Pero yung sumasabog na bungo sa Logan okay lang, no?
— Juan Miguel Severo (@TheRainBro) March 14, 2017

As I quote Felix' opening line: I am in a conundrum. This is not the first time an MTRCB rating has stumped me. It's just so stupid. Remember that the Hollywood release, John Wick 2 and Logan, both received a much lower R-16 rating despite the heavy amount of violence, blood and gore in the film (Logan even featured a breast exposure in one scene). Another recent Hollywood release, Beauty and the Beast (2017) was rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for some action violence, peril and frightening images, but was rated G (General Audiences) by the MTRCB, meaning viewers of all ages are admitted even without a parent or supervising adult. As of today, these Hollywood releases dominate cinemas across the country, with 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten being the only recent Filipino release. According to the MTRCB's official statement, the youth-oriented film has no redeeming social value, therefore making the film inappropriate to be seen by minors. Come on, did you guys even watched the actual film? The film doesn't deserve that freaking R-18 rating. Take it from someone who have seen the film seven times now (the 7th time was during the film's opening day last March 15). An R-13 rating would have been much more appropriate. An R-16 is a bit too much but still acceptable. But an R-18 rating is just plain stupid. Calling it as having no redeeming social value is way more stupid. I mean, coming out of the closet and discovering one's self has no redeeming social value? How about finding friendship as strong as Felix and Magnus? Or fighting for someone you loved, despite the consequences it may bring you? And what about accepting who you really are? Accepting and being confident in revealing the real you? Isn't all that redeeming value?

I hope this will serve as a wake-up call to all the Filipinos out there. We shouldn't let these people in their not-so-deserving government positions dictate us what is good or bad for us. We shouldn't let them tell us which movies are within our morals. We have our minds to decide which are suitable for us and which are the ones that are not.

Despite all that, I am still thankful because I was very lucky to experience this one hell of a film. I'm so thank ful because I am one of those people who have been touched by this little movie in so many ways. I am so thankful for the people behind this film because they made a movie that seemed so impossible to make and release it in mainstream theaters. Thank you, direk Jason Paul Laxamana for creating this marvelous story. Thank you direk Petersen Vargas for breathing life into this characters. Thank you to Khalil Ramos, Ethan Salvador and Jameson Blake for bravely taking these challenging roles and giving justice to each one of these characters. Please remember that I will always be your movie's number one fan.

I guess in the end, all we could do now is to show our support for the film. Watch the film in cinemas while they're still screening. Share it to your friends. Post about it in social media sites and let everyone know how good it is. At least with that, we have a pretty good fight. Support indie films. Show our love for Filipino films.

And to quote Felix one last time...

At this moment, I have this little gem called 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten that I will cherish forever. "And nothing, not even the strongest force of nature can take that away from me."

Vince and Kath and James review

Romantic films can be cheesy and predictable most of the time. But when the formula is done right, you'll be surprised with how affecting it can be.

The same can be said with Theodore Boborol's teen-oriented romantic comedy film Vince and Kath and James. An adaptation of the hit online text-serye, the film stars Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia and Ronnie Alonte in the lead roles. It is the only film produced by a big house movie company (Star Cinema) in the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival 2016. And surprisingly, it doesn't feel like most of it's studio's other films. In fact, it's better than most of Star Cinema's previous romance films.

The film follows Vince (in an outstanding performance by Joshua Garcia) a hopeless romantic college guy who is secretly in love with his bestfriend, Kath (Julia Barretto). Afraid to tell his feeling for her in person, he decided to create a blog where he expresses all his feelings for her through short but meaningful words. Kath is the school's beauty queen, who attracts the attention of Vince's cousin, the school jock James (Ronnie Alonte, in his second MMFF entry this year). James in his behalf through text, hiding behind the nickname Var (short for varsity). Then, James would meet up with her to introduce himself as Var. But things becomes more complicated as Vince can no longer hide his true feelings for his bestfriend. Will he accomplish the task? Or will he finally take the risk and decide to tell her his true feelings? At first, the story may come as too common for those people who have watched quite a lot of romantic films before. But I guess, what makes this film stand out from it's genre is the execution of the film. Sometimes, with the right people and the right skills, the most common stories can become a surprisingly amazing film. This is exactly the case for Vince and Kath and James. With the right people behind and in front of the camera, they were able to create a heartwarming film out of this typical romcom story.

I've been following Theodore Boborol and his works this past two years already. I remember watching his film, Just The Way You Are starring Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil way back in 2015. The film was also another adaptation of an online series entitled The Bet. Then, I saw his second romcom that same year, Everyday I Love You, starring Liza and Enrique again, but this time, with Gerald Anderson as the third party. From his two films, one will notice that he is able to bring out the chemistry between his actors, and uses it to the film's advantage. The uses the same technique to his latest work which I must say is one of the best romance films from last year. He has this amazing skill that allows him to bring as much as chemistry he wants from Joshua Garcia, Julia Barretto and Ronnie Alonte whenever they are on screen. This gives him more control over his story, letting him create and weave those sweet moments overflowing with kilig for the audiences. I remember when I watched this film, girls inside the cinema were actually shrieking whenever they would see the leads being paired together on screen.

The script is also one of the best things about this film. The dialogues are so hip and updated and doesn't sound too corny and artificial. You know that feeling when you're watching movies and television series and you hear the characters talking. Sometimes, when they speak, their lines feel like they come from a different era, like they're from a movie from the 1990's to early 2000's. It doesn't feel real and authentic. But with this movie's script, you will really feel like you're watching real people on screen. They talk the same way that people (teens, in particular) talk in real life. They act like a normal teen in the the real world would act. They think like a real person would think in reality. I guess it is also the same reason why this movies best fits millennials like me. The film gives a lot of focus on social media, as all of the characters are using it one way or another. The film uses it as a technique or device to move the story forward. From texts, to blogs and online social networking sites, the writer knows that these things are important to the average millennial today, and so it uses it to tell stories, create conflict and at times, provide resolutions. The film also uses it as a way of creating those cute "awww" moments, those sweet one liners and quotes that will leave a mark on your heart and mind. 

Of course, the film wouldn't work if not for the amazing performances of it's lead. Julia Barretto proves that she is indeed worthy of her Barretto name. She is perfect of the role of Kath. I can't think of any actress that could pull of that role aside from her. She shows dedication to her craft, and I know for sure that she will continue to do good in this business. Ronnie Alonte is also good in his portrayal of James. Although just like his other MMFF film, Seklusyon, his acting isn't on par with the rest of his co-actors. I don't know why but whenever I see him, his face feels a bit blank and lacking enough emotion during those dramatic scenes. I guess he just needs a little more workshop. But when it comes to the romantic moments with Julia Barretto, he manages to get everyone tickled with sweetness.

But the one who really stood out from this film was Joshua Garcia. I have followed this kid from the start. i've watched him during his days as a housemate in one of the past editions of the reality show Pinoy Big Brother and I've seen him act in television series like Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita and films like Barcelona : A Love Untold (2016). I've watched him grow from a teen to a bit more mature actor. He is the central character of the film for me. He manages to steal our attention and focus during his scenes. He is able to make everyone fall for Vince. To like him. To love him. And to root for him. He even made me shed a tear or two while watching the film. One of my favorite scenes from the film was that moment he saw his mother (played by Ina Raymundo) after a long time of being away from her. That scene (and I guess all their scenes together) really made me cry. Then, there's that scene with Julia Barretto as he brings her a pint of ice cream and comforts her after some family issues (there's a lot of it in the film). He's like a younger version of John Lloyd Cruz, although he still have a long way to go. But I know and I believe that with the right guidance and selection of projects, he gonna be one of the best actors to watch out for in the future.

But aside from this, the biggest thing that makes this film memorable is it's infectious soundtrack that adds more sweetness and kilig to it's moments. One can't help but sing while the song O, Pag-ibig! by Ylona Garcia and Bailey May or when Simpleng Tulad Mo by Daniel Padilla is playing in the background. These earworm music quicly lifts up the audiences emotions, making the film more engaging as it can be.

No wonder the committee picked this film as one of the eight entries for the recent Metro manila Film Festival. This movie is a proof that with the even big house studios can actually produce good quality films with the right material and the right handling and execution. Featuring outstanding performances from it's leads, a relatable set of characters, realistic script and amazing direction, this is undeniably one of the better Filipino romance film from last year.
Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ out of 5

Starring Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia and Ronnie Alonte,
Directed by Theodore Boborol