3 movies to (re)watch this love month
For those who love romantic movies with bagets energy, aww-shucks moments, and grand declarations of love, these films bring the nostalgia back this hearts’ month. Whether you prefer hugot feels, indie charm, or classic best-friends-to-lovers tropes, these romantic comedies have something for everyone.
‘One More Chance’
Pinoy rom-coms know how to explore raw emotions, and “One More Chance” stands out in the genre. It captures the painful yet hopeful essence of love and heartbreak.
Basha (Bea Alonzo) is an architect in the same firm as her fiancé Popoy (John Lloyd Cruz), an engineer. They belong to the same close-knit group of friends and have been together for five years until Basha gets fed up with Popoy’s controlling but well-meaning ways and opts out of the relationship, building a new life for herself. Popoy goes into self-destruct mode but is later able to recuperate in the kind arms of Trisha (Maja Salvador). Basha realizes she wants him back but things have already gotten too complicated.
Executed Hollywood-style, “One More Chance” would have ended when the leads parted ways while revisiting their alma mater, leaving it up to the audience to imagine what happens next. But since this is a Filipino movie, you pretty much know how this ends so it won’t merit a spoiler warning.
This local romantic comedy delivers. Its two leads have undeniable chemistry. Despite Cruz not being up to par in the looks department as Alonzo, onscreen he is likable, charismatic, and sincere. Alonzo complements and does not overshadow Cruz despite her beauty because she doesn’t seem too uptight about it; she believably becomes the character she plays. The supporting cast, especially Salvador and Derek Ramsay, helps fortify the story.
Popoy’s bitter line, “You had me at my best; she loved me at my worst,” resonates with anyone who has ever had their heart broken. It has joined the ranks of immortal lines ever uttered in Pinoy movies. Sure, it has its melodramatic moments, and the under-the-sheets action was a rip-off of/homage to Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes’ “Romeo+Juliet,” but director Cathy Garcia-Molina injects humor in the nick of time.
“One More Chance” shows how Pinoy movies can shine in their context, on their terms, without showing the seedy side of Manila just to be taken seriously. Its relatable relationship struggles make it a must-watch for those who appreciate depth in their rom-coms.
Rating: ****
‘Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist’
For music lovers and hopeless romantics, “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” is an indie rom-com that captures the magic of one unforgettable night.
Michael Cera reprises a role he does best (good-natured dork) as high school student Nick O’Leary, the only straight guy in the mostly gay-punk group The Jerk Offs. Nick makes “closure” CD soundtracks (up to Vol. 12!) for his bitchy ex-girlfriend Tris (Alexis Dziena). Nick meets Tris’ best friend Norah Silverberg (Kat Dennings), a mysterious, brooding type when she asks him to play her boyfriend for a few minutes (another old trick in the book).
The movie is painfully awkward in its acting, story, and editing. There are a few highlights and seriously funny moments, but they are a sad sprinkling. Ari Graynor’s antics as Caroline, Norah’s drunk and ditzy friend, seem genuine, but it isn’t established how and why they remain friends. Some of the dialogue is hilarious but you are rewarded by these handouts only if you’re patient enough not to sleep through this infinitely long and drawn-out teen flick.
The film’s grunge aesthetic and moody soundtrack make it feel authentic and fresh, but it’s sad how it’s just perfectly ambient but not particularly memorable. However, the escalator kissing scene is one of the sweetest moments in teen rom-com history.
“Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” will charm those who enjoy offbeat love stories.
Rating: **
‘Made of Honor’
A classic best-friends-to-lovers rom-com, “Made of Honor” is an entertaining and heartwarming watch. It’s a safe romantic comedy that plays exactly by the rules and wins the general audience over because it manages to have the key ingredient that makes this genre work: chemistry between likable leads.
Tom (Patrick Dempsey) and Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) have been best friends since college, where their animosity has comfortably settled into fond affection. They’re beautiful and brilliant yet clueless that they are right for each other until a compelling event sets off the requisite sense of urgency for Tom to pursue Hannah.
Dempsey is at his leading-man best as the charming bad boy Tom who changes for Hannah, the sensible pretty woman with the nonthreatening art job who gets the guy by being understanding and patiently waiting. That, in essence, is the secret formula to chick flick success at the box office.
An unpretentious crowd-pleaser, “Made of Honor” delivers the laughs. It is agreeable overall, but don’t expect it to bring anything new, not even memorable quotes or a unique soundtrack. It sticks to a tried-and-true formula and executes it well. While predictable, it is still an enjoyable, heartwarming watch.
