Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi!

3/5

A good laugh that’s smart and makes a lot of sense!

This latest Star Cinema offering, Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi! is a story of two cousins who are on different crossroads of their lives but together, they lamented the different facets of love, relationships, marriage, and annulment. Precy (Eugene Domingo) has left her husband and two kids and is filing for annulment to nullify her marriage. Belay (Toni Gonzaga) is a japayuki who returns to Manila to marry her childhood friend, Oca, who proposed to her three years ago before she left for Japan. As their personal lives are on totally opposing sides of the spectrum, the two try to convince each other of their different views about love in a hope to salvage each other from a life of misery.

There is nothing remarkably new in this movie. Same plot, same predictability, but what sets this apart and makes it a must watch movie is the genius of Director Jose Javier Reyes who also wrote the screenplay. Like all his other masterpieces this movie showcased a very witty yet insightful script. This is what I love most about Joey Reyes’ movies, the script alone is a spectacle to behold.There is always an attempt to be real and genuine with the emotions and the choice of words. It’s always good to watch characters on the big screen say things as it is, as any normal human being in a dialogue would do. This treatment on a material that’s already so predictable and a plot that’s nothing but ordinary really makes movies like this entertaining and enjoyable.

Yet, the greatest downside of this movie is the very evident poor editing and almost rushed scenes perhaps to meet a scheduled play date. I understand that it’s mainstream comedy yet everyone who knows me know that I hate endings where all the characters just magically get all their happy endings. So cliche! Up to the last 10 minutes of the movie I really thought it will have a big twist at the end just so the movie won’t be typecast. But too bad, of course producers need their money back so just give the ending that majority of the Filipino viewing public would want. Thankfully, the brilliance of Joey Reyes made it bearable by finishing up every subplots and plotlines neatly concluded.

Much to this movies’ delight, the quick-witted script by Direk Joey Reyes is complemented with superb acting from two of the country’s best female comediennes of today. Eugene Domingo I believe is already a legend when comedy is concerned. She is theatre trained and undeniably an actress in her own right. She knows what she’s doing and she’s always on target, whether it be comedy or drama.You can always see the authenticity of her acting. In terms of spontaneity, Toni Gonzaga is a pro. This is her forte--street wise comedy is what she does best. She is a revelation in this movie. Her brand of comedy is just so natural. Just imagine how real and genuine the dialogues of these two when they share the same scene, it’s so believable. It’s almost not acting at all. Their spontaneous exchanges of dialogues are always a laugh fest spectacular. Zanjoe Marudo gave an equally outstanding performance and is really a good actor who’s just waiting for the biggest break of her career. Zanjoe can really act.

This movie is not something I will say superb in all aspect. Yes, it’s hilarious and makes a lot of good points to ponder on, yet it’s not the kind of story or movie for that matter that you’ll remember or will be a classic as the years pass by. It could have been so much more what with a very rich story backbone but it just didn’t exhaust its potential. What’s really admirable about this movie is that it gives what the audience wants…fun and entertainment but with a sense. Yes, I do recommend this movie if you want to laugh and be entertained because in all fairness this movie delivers and you won’t be disappointed. Its type of comedy is really smart and rightfully works. It also instils in its viewers that at the end of the day, after everything that’s been said and done it all boils down to the question of whether you still love the person you’re with or not anymore. As simple as that. 

Till My Heartaches End

5/5

Not your typical Pinoy romance movie, this one’s brilliantly made and can go head to head with the well-loved classic, “One More Chance”.

Till My Heartaches End is the love story of a barista, Paolo (Gerald) who’s ambitious and somewhat over confident and falls in love with Agnes (Kim), a no-boyfriend-since-birth province lass who’s here in Manila to pass her Nursing licensure exam. The two first met on the cafe where Paolo was working. Destiny made its way and by chance they met again at Recto. Soon, they fell in love and everything seems to be going smoothly until Paolo finds a new job. As a Real Estate Agent, not only was he able to level up his living but also open himself up to a more high class crowd. An environment Agnes doesn’t feel she belonged. Conflicts arise in their relationship as Agnes feels more and more irrelevant and unimportant to his new world and Paolo for his part, felt his love is no longer enough to make her happy. In the face of these conflicts and struggles, will they be strong enough to fight for their love or will they give up and just move on? Will destiny still matter?

I’d like to begin this review with praises to the Director, Direk Joey Reyes for yet another masterpiece. He doesn’t only know what he wants, he captures them so perfectly. To me, that’s the true mark of a brilliant Director, being able to depict on silver screen the realities of human emotions without bias and exaggerations. This is his forte as a Director. He creates movies that are honest and sincere; movies that doesn’t give you the, this-only-happens-in-the-movies kind of feeling. As a film maker, he’s one of those we can call a true blue genius!

Viewers can easily relate to the story because of the wonderfully written script also by Direk Joey Reyes. The script’s rich insights of the human emotions draw viewers to be emotionally invested in the love story of Paolo and Agnes. Once again and I have to point this out, the biggest come on of the script is its use of genuine human emotions of kilig, hurt, frustrations, and disappointments. No sugar-coating, no corny cliché lines that makes Pinoy romance movies unbelievable and so untrue. The script of Till My Heartaches End is like any other Joey Reyes’ films were dialogues and conversations are plain, simple, and direct to the point. They were all constructed and chained in a manner that doesn’t make you feel as if you’re watching a movie at all. The story, the plot, and the script are all so believable.

This movie is a lot different from all the other local romance movies produced prior to it for it was successful in deviating from tradition. The movies’ narrative flows by the use of a third person technique. Where viewers are given access not only to the thoughts and emotions of the main characters but also with what the people outside their relationship (family and friends) thinks about Paolo and Agnes’ different personalities that greatly affects the relationship. I commend Direk Joey Reyes for using this technique and for flawlessly executing it in the big screen.

Above all, this movie is remarkable because unlike most of the romance movies Filipinos are accustomed to, this one doesn’t betray its characters and the story itself. There’s enough room for suspension of disbelief. At same time, it doesn’t give us a speedy ending that after all the conflicts the characters faced, something happens in an instant and their conflicts are magically resolved. Instead, it leaves the viewers an opportunity to create their own conclusion to the story. It leaves room for the imagination to decipher what really happened after the closing credits.

It’s also noteworthy to give due credits to the cast especially to the movie’s main stars Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. Their undeniable chemistry provided an easy vehicle for viewers to be instantly captivated with the appropriate emotions one should feel in every turning point of the narrative. Truly, these two actors have graduated as the teeny-teeny boppers we’ve known them to be. Gerald can really act as evident to his great portrayal of JR in the hit teleserye “Tayong Dalawa” and in his numerous MMK portrayals. Kim on the other hand is equally talented in acting. Her maturity and versatility as an actress has amazed not only her fans but her critics as well. She just needs the right material at the right time and who knows she can soon level with Bea Alonzo, acting wise. The ensemble of supporting characters also provided much enjoyment and essential acting in making the narrative more effective. Most notable supporting characters are those of Matet de Leon who’s very very brilliant as an actress! Desiree del Valle, Boots Anson Roa, Mark Gil, and Kakai Bautista are equally awesome in their roles.

After watching this movie, I have to say that among all the movies I’ve seen this year, Till My Heartaches End has got to be the one that touched my heart the most. It touched the deepest corners of my heart and I am being honest that writing this review proved to be an effort to me. I guess it’s pretty obvious that my next statement will be I highly recommend this movie to everyone but not because I relate too much with the story instead, because the movie is very good. One of the best films of its genre!

The movie will awaken in its viewers a lot of suppressed and repressed emotions we’ve already hidden/forgotten deep in our hearts. I’m sure anybody can relate and will remember someone after watching this movie. It reminds us what destiny is all about—an idea almost unfathomable but so true. It’s been written that our life here on earth is already pre-planned for us. All the people we meet, all the heartaches, all the experiences good and bad. And this movie proves to be a great reminder that while some things are built to last, some are bound to end. We just can’t help it for everything is destined in this life.

When Love Begins

4/5 stars

Together with Joanne and Korina, we were on our way to SM Mall of Asia last November 2007 to watch "One More Chance" when I first heard about this movie. Without second thoughts, I told my two girlfriends that I'm gonna watch this movie come what may. Finally, 5 months after, the movie premiered in theaters nationwide and two days after its regular screening, here's what Dave has to say about "When Love Begins..."

This movie deserves a credit for how genius it handled the unconventional type of relationship the two main characters have. Although undeniably the movie was very formulaic and predictable, I believe Director Jose Javier Reyes was successful in making this movie rise above all other romance flicks by using the elements of realism. "When Love Begins" breaks away from the convention of cheesy, corny, "kill-me-now" lines you'll most likely hear in romance movies. With this movie, you'll feel and see what is really happening in a relationship. Every dialogue was precise and enough to just express the emotions of the characters as well as what the scene is asking for. There was never a scene or dialogue of exaggerating emotions in this film. The only thing I didn't like about it was the immensity of coincidences in the movie. I believe that the concept of destiny in chick flicks are so over used and since the movie was very promising I expected that Director Jose Javier Reyes was able to add a different twist in some scenes particularly the last few scenes when the lead characters got back together. I think it's so coincidental.

The primary reason why I love the plot is because it gives the moviegoers a picture of a relationship taken out of our reality. "When Love Begins" will not give you the feeling of kilig-kilig moments rather it will show you the real complications and struggles a new relationship entails. This is a movie done to show what happens when two different personalities fused together to build a relationship in the midst of other difficulties surrounding them.

At first thought you would think that the pairing of Aga Muhlach and Anne Curtis wouldn't be successful and won't create a spark of chemistry considering their big age gap but with how genius Direk Joey Reyes carried out this mature love story, it did create a fire of chemistry between Aga and Anne. Needless to say that Aga's favorable acting as Ben and Anne's splendid portrayal as Mich is a big factor in creating the heart of a romance flick--chemistry.

When Love Begins is not the kind of movie that'll have you raving about it after the ending credits but it is the kind of movie you wouldn't wanna miss especially if you love romance. Also, I believe this is the perfect movie for couples who are in the early stages of their relationship when they're still getting to know each other and where the adjustment period is still very much felt. This movie is worth your 120 bucks and popcorn to accompany.

PS. What can I say?! Anne is so fabulous in this movie. And to Moi and Jarvis, guys, you should watch this.