MOVIE REVIEW: Maybe This Time

Director:

Jerry Lopez Sineneng

Cast: 

Sarah Geronimo (Steph Asuncion aka Tep-Tep or Tep)
Coco Martin (Tonio Bugayong)
Ruffa Guttierez (Monica T. Valencia)

Synopsis: 

Steph (played by Sarah) met Tonio (played by Coco) in one fateful summer. Steph was a young girl from the city who went to Tonio's small town for a community service on English literacy. After Tonio's persistence, Steph fell in love with him. That love was doomed when Tonio suddenly left without a word to board a ship as a seaman. Seven years later, their paths crossed again, however, this time Tonio is already with Monica (played by Ruffa) who happens to be Steph's boss.What happens next is a series of events where they try to live their present lives behind the shadow of the past.

Review:

     This romantic-comedy movie delivered some laughs, a good cry, however, predictable plots and inauthentic script.

     The scenery that was shot in Bataan is majestic. I think that is one of the strongest part of the movie. The breathtaking, natural beauty is perfect for the movie's small town, young love, simple life theme. One cannot help but hold their breath as they show the aerial view of the hills overlooking the beach.

     While the main cast, Steph and Tonio are portrayed well, it still does not offer anything new aside from the cliche rich girl-poor boy-who-are-in-love-but-cannot-be-together that the Philippine cinema is saturated of. The script is sub-par offering very common plots, cheesy lines like the use of the different meanings of MU (from mutual understanding to misunderstanding to mag-usap), which is an old concept and is really hard to deliver without sounding gaudy despite the actors' great acting chops. 

     I enjoyed Tonio's hopeless romantic, probinsyano vibe. Coco Martin showed why he is one of the country's most sought after star because of his genuine portrayal of roles and that very charming smile. Sarah's portrayal of Steph was very natural, light and comfortable. It is a jarring contrast to Ruffa's very uncomfortable, pretentious character as Monica. I feel that they could have casted somebody closer to Sarah and Coco's age group. Whether Ruffa's casting was intentionally meant for a cougar-ish relationship or for marketting, I do not think it worked in a movie targeting the younger audience. Mama Mae (Ogie Diaz' character) is a special mention as he kept the movie going and was actually very successful in delivering his punchlines. I loved how he kept the movie alive and actually put the comedy in this rom-com.

     The soundtrack is the very 80's title of the movie itself that Sarah Geronimo sang, and although a well-loved classic, I was hoping for a more 21st century song that is new (or fairly new) and fresh. There is nothing really spectacular about the soundtrack, other than, of course, Sarah sang it well as always.

     Although the movie doesn't check some boxes on my checklist for a one of a kind rom-com, I do applaud the message that comes with the film. And that is, being true to oneself, embracing what and who you love and how you want your life to be. Personally, I believe that a lot of people try to pretend to be this other person that they want themselves to be and in the end, totally lies to themselves and hinders their own happiness. It is good that a movie actually tells people that it is ok to be a probinsyano and yes, it is ok for people to know that you were/are poor. 

     I am not going to lie, I did shed quite a few tears and some giggles. It is a short, feel good summertime movie that will give you a high but something that will easily slip your mind in the next couple days. Aside from the scenery of course. That one is nostalgic. 

Rating:

3/5

-ecy casiano