Ok, ok, I'm not really the expert on local romcoms (
romantic comedies) since I don't watch that many, but the ones I've watched are cheeky and cutesy at best and don't really deal with adult issues - they seemed more like adults acting like high school students with a crush on someone. But not this
movie.
First, there's a lot of sex going on, which is unsurprising because what I personally know from the young people I know is that - they do get a lot of sex - but don't tell the Church about that.
Second, both
John Lloyd and
Angel's portrayal of their characters' professional life looks more believable and they really look like two adults in love.
God knows I could not stand another local rom com with cheesy pick up lines. I mean, do real people do that in
real life? But here, except maybe for that article written by John Lloyd which appears on the front page (watch the movie and tell me if something like that ever happened in real life!) - everything in here seems real.
Third, finally, John Lloyd is not acting like a lovelorn puppy anymore. I've always known the guy can act, but with the previous materials given to him, what else can he do but just ham it up. But not here. He's really a man here - a man in love and a man that's too nice (to my taste - but yeah, I have friends like him who are nice and are just ok with sacrificing for love!).
Fourth, thank God they've toned down the pacutesy stuff. Well, there are still some here but at least those are actions I've known some adults have done - corny as they may seem. Hey, love can be corny and the 'harana' scene in the end - yeah - that's a very Filipino custom done with a modern twist. Cheesy really, a bit corny but sweet nevertheless.
I guess this movie will touch those who've had to sacrifice something for love - like moving elsewhere - or deciding to work somewhere far away from someone's loved one. With many of our countrymen opting to work abroad,
Star Cinema has once again cleverly positioned the
OFW plot in this romantic fodder material - and it works, at least for me.
Angel's character is someone I really know and her issues regarding her decision is something we hear from our friends, especially when they have to choose between love, career and their future.
As for me, I'm just really glad I didn't have to suffer through another two hours of rom com trash - because this one isn't. And I love that
Cathy Garcia-Molina was brave enough to show us several scenes of John Lloyd in his naked glory! I mean, guys with six pack abs are nice but the reality is, most normal real men have a "John Lloyd" body. And with a face like that, yeah, it went well with the ice cream I was slurping while watching this movie. Yeah, buy something to slurp on! Your eyes and tongue can slurp at the same time!
