Title: 24/7 In Love

Director: John D. Lazatin, Mae Czarina Cruz, Frasco Santos Mortiz and Dado Lumibao

Producer: Star Cinema

Distribution: Star Cinema

Date of premiere: November 21, 2012

Star Cinema's ensemble piece 24/7 In Love is pretty uneven, but the tone is generally light and fluffy that it is a joy to watch.

24/7 In Love presents seven stories starring some of Star Magic's largest stars, in celebration of the talent agency's 20th year. And as the title suggests, all the segments deal with romance. Romance is Star Cinema's specialty nowadays, so I guess that's a safe bet for them.

Four directors got together to helm the movie:

John D. Lazatin directed three segments: Zanjoe Marudo and Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz and Angelica Panganiban, and Diether Ocampo and Maja Salvador.

Mae Czarina Cruz directed two: Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo, and Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu.

Dado Lumibao directed one: Piolo Pascual, Zaijian Jaranilla, and Xyriel Manabat

Lastly, newcomer Frasco Mortiz directed one: Sam Milby and Pokwang.

The seven segments are uneven in execution. Some are solid, while some are forgettable.

Of all the segments, the one featuring real-life couple Zanjoe Marudo and Bea Alonzo is easily the most solid. It tells the story of a tomboy named Belle (Bea) who tries to spark a connection with her best friend and roommate Butch (Zanjoe), who is openly gay.

When Butch announces his plan to move to Europe to be with his boyfriend while pursuing a career in fashion, Bea uses everything, even seduction, to attract Butch and convince him not to go. But Butch immediately realizes what's up, making him questions his identity.

This gender-bending tale is so well-executed that I think it is the most gender sensitive portrayal of homosexuality in Philippine mainstream cinema this year. The ending even nails it.

Zanjoe is very believable as an openly gay man in this segment, that it gives the story it's due weight. Zanjoe has had a good year in the movie, with his notable role in Adolf Alix Jr.'s Kalayaan, and his role here.

Two other solid segments are Dado Lumibao's Piolo-Zaijian-Xyriel story, and Frasco Mortiz's Sam-Pokwang starrer.

Lumibao's segment puts a new approach to the love triangle: use kids, and add a mentally-disabled third wheel. Piolo's portrayal of a grown-up with the mind of a kid is so on-point, the triangle is not at all creepy. It's funny how MTRCB's ratings form informs viewers that this may be disturbing to the kids.

Again, what keeps this segment afloat is Piolo's praise-worthy acting abilities. What can't this guy do?

Seriously?

Mortiz's segment, on the other hand, is notable for serving the right mix of humor and romance. Pokwang and Sam may not be a good match visually, but Pokwang's acting talents makes it all credible. Pokwang has had a good year with A Mother's Story, The Healing, and the TV series Aryana. 

We watched Mortiz debut in the too-ambitious The Reunion. With his segment in 24/7 In Love, Mortiz finds his footing and keeps at it. His montage of several motel rooms is good to see. Perhaps the short format helped him. (Technically, his first mainstream movie was a segment in the horror compilation Cinco.

Somewhat solid is Mae Czarina Cruz's Gerald-Kim segment. It's full of kilig moments, but a few inconsistencies mar the finished product. One is how Gerald's character can enter a burning building that's not barricaded by firemen, and why he had to remove his pants to save a woman from a fire when he would just use a broom to put it out. 

There's also the ending, where he and Kim spill all their feelings in front of the executives of an ad agency. How awkward could that be?

Also, Maricar Reyes, who plays the nemesis to Kim Chiu's happiness, steals the scenes where she's in.

Maricar the scene-stealer.

Forgettable are John D. Lazatin's John Lloyd-Angelica and Diether-Maja segments, and Mae Czarina Cruz's Daniel-Kathryn segment.

John Lloyd and Angelica's segment is the one that followed Star Cinema's generic romantic movie formula. 

Diether Ocampo and Maja Salvador's segment was the most illogical. 

Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo's story was used as the framing device, and so it felt choppy and irregular. One part, for instance, had Kathryn's character worrying about tickets to a concert. Later on, she holds the VIP tickets in her hand. How they got there is a mystery.

The best element of 24/7 In Love, though, is the soundtrack. Musical director Jessie Lasaten should be lauded for choosing OPM songs that carry viewers onto a nostalgic trip. I loved hearing Juan de la Cruz Band's No Touch, Carol Banawa's Bakit Di Totohanin, Didith Reyes's Bakit Ako Mahihiya, and other songs.

The music and the equally smart scoring is worth the price of the ticket.

RATING: 3.5 stars out of 5
SUMMARY: It may be uneven, but it's sweet and good-natured. The music is good, and you'll find it hard not to sing along.

Title: Suddenly It's Magic

Director: Rory Quintos

Producer: Star Cinema

Distribution: Star Cinema

Date of premiere: October 31, 2012

[NOTE: This review has spoilers. Given the predictability of this film, however, I say it does not matter.]

After about some time sitting in the theater while watching this movie, I checked my watch to check time. When I saw that not even 30 minutes has passed, I knew I was in for a lot of hurt.

(A quick note: for me, the best movies should not make me feel that I should check the time. When I do, that means I'm getting impatient, and that the movie sucks.)

Star Cinema's Suddenly It's Magic is postured to be a light romcom. The reality is far from that though, since the movie is sluggish and illogical. I wonder how it even made it out of the gate.

The story's simple and done before: hot young actor from another country gets tired of his job and so he goes to the Philippines to have a little retreat from all the attention. There he meets a young woman who is recovering from a heartbreak. And even though their first meet-up is chaotic, the two fall in love. When all things look perfect, a few conflicts are introduced. But of course, they pass all these problems, and go back into each other's arms. End credits.

Cliched does not even start to describe it.

Note to directors: chaotic first meetups are so old, and so unlifelike. Please don't use it.

This movie's chaotic first meetup is a little supernatural: Mario Maurer's Marcus takes a bite of a cupcake that Erich Gonzales's Joey made. Marcus says the cupcake "tastes sad", thereby enraging Joey, who then makes a scene by eating a lot of cupcakes to near-choking. Marcus sorts of saves her by doing an amateur Heimlich maneuver on her, accidentally touching her boobs.

Did I say the leading man said he can taste emotions for cupcakes? Yes, he said the cupcakes "taste sad." Not making that shit up.

Erich Gonzales's character is also as faulty. Early in the film, she is implied to be suffering from a heartbreak because she got left at the altar. That narrative piece is not solidly established though, so her characterization feels shallow and bipolar--happy one second, and sad the next. 

Maybe it did not help that the first scenes showing Joey did not establish this well. Her first scene had her baking yummy and colorful cupcakes. 

The scene where she goes home to an empty large house could be set up to make the audience feel her grief, but it was not utilized well. The scene starts with a long shot where she enters a gate from the corner of the screen. The shot shows her dwarfed by a large house, but the house's exterior is too busy with ornaments to heighten the impact. 

One issue I have with this movie is the use of three languages: there's Thai, there's Tagalog/Filipino, and there's Ilocano. The use of a diverse set of tongues is not an issue in itself; the issue is that the Filipino characters (Joey plus her friends) speak to Marcus using their native tongues, even though he admitted that he does not fully understand them. I know for a fact that Filipinos are a hospitable lot, and that we try our hardest to speak in English whenever a foreigner is within hearing distance.

And about Joey's friends: they are played by a diverse set of actors--Dinky Doo, Ces Quesada, Cacai Bautista, and Joross Gamboa--yet they are indistinguishable from each other. It does not help that acting is subpar from this set, particularly with Joross Gamboa, who cannot quite get the quirks needed to act gay.

But my main gripe with this film is how predictable it is. I can see the movie's twists and its ending from miles away, so I had a hard time staying put. I was tapping my feet in impatience at one point, and I was even doing fun things with my sunglasses to fight boredom. 

[How to have fun with your sunglasses inside a movie theater: (1) bite the ear grips, (2) hold at an arm's length and check how the glass's concave-ness warps the actors' faces, (3) wear the eyepiece to check how the movie world has gone dark, (4) repeat.]

The movie raises a lot of plot points, and rushes to wrap all of them in the last minutes. Joey, for instance, has issues with an absentee father, who only appears once earlier in the movie. The last minutes show her reconcile with the father. This reconciliation is expected, but it could have been set up better if there are earlier scenes pointing to this. After all, Joey spent too much time in Thailand doing nothing but sulk.

The only positive aspect of this film is that it is a visual spectacle. There's a lot of refreshing scenery nicely captured to captivate viewers, from the beaches of Ilocos to the landmarks of Thailand.

So if you want to watch this, lower your expectations and just desire to see the sights. And don't forget your sunglasses.

RATING: 1 stars out of 5

SUMMARY: It's pretty, but shallow, predictable and sluggish.

Title: Of All The Things

Director: Joyce Bernal

Producer: GMA Films and Viva Films

Distribution: Viva Films

Date of premiere: September 26, 2012

Sorry that this review is late; I have been really busy this week to write this, even though I have viewed the movie on Wednesday. [I also wrote a review for one website but it has not yet been posted.]

Nevertheless, this has to be said: Joyce Bernal's Of All The Things is exceptional.

It needs to be praised for its storytelling.

It's unhurried. The story focuses on the characters than on a forced love story. In fact, the romantic sub-plot does not appear until after half of the film is over.

This lets the romance grow naturally. This movie has no irrational romantic scenes that do not happen in real life--there's no chaotic first meetings, pathetic twists that lead to break-ups, and synthetic love triangles. (Seriously, why do all romantic movies today have to have triangles?)

What happens instead is a gradual showcase of a good relationship between Umboy (Aga Muhlach), a failed-law-student-turned-notary-public, and Berns (Regine Velasquez), a professional fixer.

It's fun to see the two try working together. Umboy is too indebted to laws that it was hard for him to adjust to Berns's many illegal rackets. This contrast helps the plot chug along.

It also helps that both Aga Muhlach and Regine Velasquez turn in great performances. Whatever chemistry they had making their first successful films remain up to this movie.

The supporting cast also does well, particularly Gina Pareno, Eric Santos and John Lapus.

I loved the moments when these actors deliver funny lines in a deadpan manner. The best one that I can remember is when Aga Muhlach quips: "Ang kuya kong masuwerete."

I really liked this film and I think you should see it. Still, I deduct a point off for the varying physical looks of the lead actors in between scenes. The film was shot in a span of three years, and Aga and Regine's yoyoing weights are obvious in the film.

RATING: 4 stars out of 5

SUMMARY: This movie tries hard not to be a generic romantic film, and it succeeds.

Title: The Mistress

Director: Olivia Lamasan

Producer: Star Cinema

Distribution: Star Cinema

Date of premiere: September 12, 2012

There is no excuse for a highly-anticipated big-budgeted mainstream production from top-tier studio Star Cinema to have a lot of glitches. But maybe, the film's post-prod had just been rushed and did not care for quality control. The film is more than two hours long, after all.

The Mistress tells the story of Sari (Bea Alonzo), an aspiring  and  dressmaker who works hard to support her large family. On the side, she augments her income by being the mistress of a rich businessman twice her age. But it's not her choice, she says, because she's just highly-appreciative of the help Rico-the-businessman (Ronaldo Valdez) has given her in the past. She's a good girl, she says.

One day, she meets JD (John Lloyd Cruz), a hotshot playboy drop-dead-gorgeous architect. JD tries all the ways to let her fall into his arms, chanting repeatedly: makukuha rin kita (I will get you). But Sari is not free, so JD must be content in pestering her.

That is until JD learns that Sari is the mistress of Rico, the father he knows and despises. JD tries to be angry at Sari, but her good-girl ways acquit her in JD's heart. JD continues to try courting her, if only to save her from that dad whom he deeply hates.

This amazing setpiece should be homerun for director Olivia Lamasan. There could be fun campy confrontation scenes a-la blockbuster hit No Other Woman. There could be lines that people utter as they go out of the cinema. 

Sadly, Lamasan failed to capitalize on this. While the absence of the campy confrontation scenes can be forgiven, given that the low-key dramatic approach works better since it makes the scenes simmer, the lack of crisp memorable lines is unforgivable. The lines are corny and sometimes cringe-inducing, as attested to the main line uttered again and again. Hearing "Hindi lahat ng gusto mo, makukuha mo (You cannot get everything that you want)" again and again is taxing to the ears. We get it. Please stop.

The other aspects of production are also not that high. The scoring is as tacky and as loud as elevator music, and the soundtrack chosen is a tough gamble. Watching the main characters make love to Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars is funny it had me giggling.

It needs a softer song, with less bass. Would it hurt to compose one just for the film?

Cinematography is also as weak. Some shots are underlit, while some shots are too bright. In one scene where Hilda Koronel was supposed to be drunk, the lighting had her skin look too pale, like she's sick. Intoxicated people should be flushed red.

And, as previously stated, post production is shoddy and seems rushed. The version I saw in Shangri-La Plaza Mall had three (or more) editing gaffes, where a snapshot of a scene sneaks in inside another scene for a micro-second. There are also continuity goofs--the most memorable is one where Bea Alonzo is washing the windows, and the bubbles magically disappear. In another, Hilda Koronel was fidgeting with her purse laid on a table. The purse disappears when she stands up to go somewhere.

But The Mistress is not an overall failure. The performance of the cast more than saves the movie.

They're good, except maybe the kid. Anita Linda is
not in this photo, but she's a great diversion.

In this movie, John Lloyd Cruz was cast against type. He's not anymore the Mr. Nice Guy. He's now an asshole who will do anything to get any woman. And although the characterization disappears halfway to the film, it's still fun to see JLC navigate the character.

Bea Alonzo, on the other hand, plays the long-suffering kind woman she usually plays, so it's not surprising that she nails it. 

Scenes with Bea and John Lloyd in them are so affecting that it compels you to stay in your seat for two hours to see how their characters' stories end. You might even shed a tear or two.

Exiting the theater, I heard a woman behind me say: "Ang dami kong iyak dito (I cried a lot in this movie)." If you'd like to get lost in a movie for two hours to cry your eyes out, then this movie is for you. But if you're thinking you'd want to see it because it may be as good or better than the perfect perfect perfect One More Chance, then you'll have to think twice.

The Mistress is not stellar, but darami ang iyak mo rito.

RATING: 2.5 stars out of 5

SUMMARY: Shoddy production values keep The Mistress from being perfect. See it for the actors.

ADDITIONAL: Want to read a deeper analysis of this film? Go here. It's right-on, although it's a (non)review.

Title: Just One Summer

Director: Mac Alejandre

Producer: GMA Films

Distribution: GMA Films

Date of premiere: August 15, 2012

A lot of questions were formed in my head after watching Just One Summer. The following are some of them:

1. Masarap kayang maging tatay si Joel Torre? (Will Joel Torre be a good dad?) Because that scene where he tries and succeeds to wake up a defiant Elmo Magalona seems strangely succulent.

2. Why is this film too formulaic? On the first meeting of Beto (Julie Anne San Jose) and Daniel (Elmo Magalona), I knew something chaotic will come up. And I was right: Beto vomited on Daniel's shirt. Spell cliche.

3. Isn't Daniel too young to go abroad to study medicine? He looks like he has not yet finished high school.

4. Why is the film insisting on building up minor characters? Several actors playing these parts come up laughingly-bad, particularly Sef Cadayona. His character could have been done away with.

5. Is Beto too smitten that she very easily forgave Daniel after he sexually harassed her? One scene he was trying  to abuse her crush for him by kissing her forcefully, the next scene they're washing carabaos by the lake.

6. Why bring up Beto's scholarship and tuition money, when this is not anymore mentioned after Daniel falls in love with her. Did she even go back to school, or is schooling chucked away from her life goals after she attracted the haciendero's son?

7. Who is this film's production designer, and scout locator? They did a good job. The nice shots of the farm and well-designed sets made the film tolerable to watch. Eye candy everywhere.

8. It's a good decision to cast award-winning actors around the newcomers Julie Anne San Jose and Elmo Magalona. Whatever they lack in the acting department, the senior actors make up for it.

9. Too many kissing scenes, but all of them are chaste. Have they ever kissed before, or are they still too underage to do it onscreen?

10. Is this a better film than The Reunion? Yes, but only by a hair.

RATING: 3 stars out of 5
SUMMARY: The plot is too formulaic, but the cast's acting and the production design make up for it.

Title: Born To Love You

Director: Jerome Pobocan

Producer: Star Cinema and CineMedia

Distribution: Star Cinema

Date of premiere: May 30, 2012

I was ready to rail against this movie. I first saw its trailer in the premiere night for Every Breath U Take, and I instantly believed it will suck. For one, the story seemed generic. I also do not believe Angeline Quinto can pull off a movie, since she has no acting experience.

But this film won me over. 

The story is nothing special, but the storytelling made it stand out. It is coherent, and not a mash-up of plotlines. Unlike other movies of its type, the events do not stem from coincidence.

(Well, some events seem coincidential, but everything can be explained once the first twist is revealed.)

Angeline Quinto also gives a passable performance as a peppy tourist guide who wants to change the life of brooding and pessimistic Rex (Coco Martin). Angeline's acting is surprising, as she has not acted before. She deserves more projects soon.

The supporting cast also gives good performances, giving Angeline's performance a boost. Remarkable are Malou de Guzman, Al Tantay, Eula Valdez, and Albert Martinez. Jojit Lorenzo deserves a special mention.

So if you haven't seen this movie yet, go now and watch it. It deserves to be a hit, and to surpass Star Cinema's less acceptable releases (that grossed over 200M pesos). #rantover

RATING: 4 stars out of 5
SUMMARY: Better than most of Star Cinema's release this year (except Unofficially Yours).

(Another version of this movie review posted at PEP.ph)

Title: UnOfficially Yours

Director: Cathy Garcia-Molina

Producer: Star Cinema

Distribution: Star Cinema

Date of premiere: February 15, 2012

UnOfficially Yours works because of the incredible chemistry between the two leads, John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin. Both play individuals caught in a relationship that's mostly about casual sex, until one of them wishes for something more.

John Lloyd is Mackie, a dentist who changes his career to be a journalist in Manila Bulletin. Angel is Ces, a lifestyle journalist that Mackie met (weeks? days?) ago for a one-night stand.

It is fun and gooey to watch the exploits of the two lead characters. John Lloyd is magnetic on screen, and lends his character authenticity by doing almost nothing at all. Angel gives her character a practicality, and it works. 

I lost count on the number of sex scenes the two have had (note to self: watch it again, and count), but all of these scenes were handled with expert humor. 

The supporting characters are also great to watch, particularly Mackie's gang: Boom Labrusca, Edgar Allan Guzman, and the thin lesbian actress I haven't seen before. I don't know her name, but she was funny, so here's a special mention.

The only negative that I can say about this film is how John Lloyd's character can't seem to grasp what journalism should be. At one point, he passes a love letter to the editors, and it gets printed on the front page. Totally weird. 

Nevertheless, UnOfficially Yours is still a worthy watch. And it's directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, whose terrific film One More Chance has already entered local zeitgeist. She can do no wrong in my eyes.

I hope UnOfficially Yours  becomes a very big hit so it will surpass Praybeyt Benjamin in the ranking of all-time best films in the box office. That crappy Wenn Deramas movie film does not deserve the number one.

RATING: 4.5/5

SUMMARY: John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin have incredible chemistry together in this hilarious film by Cathy Garcia-Molina. Watch this now.

Title: My Cactus Heart

Director: Enrico Santos

Producer: Star Cinema

Distribution: Star Cinema

Date of premiere: January 25, 2012

The romantic film My Cactus Heart is Star Cinema's first offering for 2012. It sets a tone for the local film production outfit, that all their films for the year will be shallow and saccharine.

My Cactus Heart tells the story of Sandy (Maja Salvador), who does not believe in love, and chooses to break as many hearts as she can. She then meets Karlo (Matteo Guidicelli), a singing waiter, who convinces her to take a shot at romance.

It is undeniable that the two leads, played by real-life sweethearts Maja Salvador and Matteo Guidicelli, has infectious chemistry. The two light up the screen whenever they are in the frame, and their presence makes the story of found love believable.

Maja is lovable as Sandy, who should have been characterized as a mean girl but was instead shown to be sweet and endearing. Matteo, on the other hand, is charming as a humble young man who says his Tagalog lines stiltedly, playing up the appeal of an almost-foreign accent.

The problem with My Cactus Heart is that too many stories are added to the batch, complicating Sandy and Matteo's love story.

Sandy's father left them when she was young. Karlo has an absentee mother. The bank can take Karlo's house at any time. All of these stories are developed, then droppped when the film reached its conclusion. All these make the film longer than how it should be.

My Cactus Heart also tries to capture the current era by toying with recent trends in cinema, like found footage, animation, and sped up and over-the-top scenes. What it does is admirable, so it is a pity that these only existed in the film's first half. But then again, these moments were not made well, so having less of them might be a good thing too.

Several actors playing support manage to make a mark. Xian Lim enchants as Sandy's suitor, Gee Canlas is made to deliver hilarious lines and survives the order, Joy Viado's mere presence is funny, and Rosanna Roces's quiet suffering is remarkable.

In the end, My Cactus Heart is a sweet film that delivers some good laughs at times. If you want to see a romantic film early this year, then this film is for you. But don't expect a masterpiece.

RATING: 2 stars out of 5
SUMMARY: Matteo Guidicelli and Maja Salvador are charming in a movie with a messy screenplay. You might want to skip this one.

(First published in PEP.ph. Article has been reworked.)