I liked it. I would recommend it to my friends. But, I wouldn’t watch it again.
Lea: “Matangos ang ilong mo… may bigote ka. Feeling ko ang pogi pogi mo!”
Tonyo: “Bulag ka nga.”
After seeing the trailer long ago, I found it cute, yet it didn’t go to my personal list of movies to watch out for this year. Why?
- I am shamelessly one of those women who like leading men to be good-looking. Dapat type ko.
- I knew Empoy can do comedy, but I doubted he can do romance. With Alessandra De Rossi, really?
- The trailer I saw gave me the impression it is just another true love drama between a blind woman and a guy who sticks with her.
Until my professor friend asked us to watch with her this Friday, July 21.
The script
I was excited to see it. Although I didn’t have any expectation in terms of hugot lines unlike when I watched Camp Sawi. Maybe because of the positive reviews, or simply bliss of uncertainty. I also like Alessandra so much, given that she has played every role she’s ever in really well.
There’s nothing special about the first few scenes, as well as the lead character. She introduces herself, what her life is like, and that she has lived in Japan long enough that she’s almost a local. Alessandra was a natural – she bagan throwing off funny lines and suddenly, all of us in the cinema were laughing. Until she started isinuating the first conflict in the story, which was typical. BUT, the script is good – it’s honest, witty, and really funny, not trying hard to be.
I really liked the confrontation scene where Lea didn’t even have to open her mouth. That part convinced me the movie was worth my money and I’m up for another hour or two.
Funny, indeed
I won’t be a spoiler and tell you the next scenes. But, 30 minutes after the film rolled, all of us in Gateway Cineplex were awake, all-eyes on the screen, and laughing out loud. It’s been so long since I’ve laughed that hard in a movie house. While Lea’s (Alessandra) wit got our attention, Tonyo’s (Empoy) talent sustained it effortlessly. It was pure comedy, until it started bringing out the feels.
But, you’ll cry
An hour later, it became dramatic. However, the producers were really good that the mix wasn’t awkward. I liked the flow and the pacing – how it went from being funny, to dramatic, back to funny, then to dramatic again. I guess it’s the honesty of the characters. Genuineness would get me every time.
Tonyo: “Isang beses lang ako nagmahal. Pero yung isang beses na yun ang sumira sakin.”
(Not verbatim. But that part was real hugot for me. He he.)
Conclusion
Alessandra and Empoy were equally excellent in this film. I loved how Lea becomes teary-eyed and I’d find myself about to cry as well. You would feel her pain even though she says nothing at all. Empoy, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air. He may not be the dashing leading man we’re all used to see, yet he is the perfect one for the role. It would have been corny if it wasn’t Empoy.
Messages of the story
- Promises are pointless because people change
- No matter how nice you are, life will break you
- But God appoints friends to help you get by and even enjoy somehow
- There are many seasons in one’s life – it isn’t short
Again, I would recommend that you watch it, as we don’t always get to see movies with script as good as this. Kudos to Spring Films and thank you for steering clear of the mainstream. My friends say the ending was predictable and I agree. Yet, I don’t mind, as I liked the rest of the movie a lot. Also, for me, it was the proper ending – I wouldn’t want it any other way.
I, however, won’t watch it again because punchlines can only be funny once. The conflict in the story, as well as Alessandra and Empoy’s chemistry, are also not haunting enough.
