JoshLia’s chemistry remains strong in ‘Un/Happy For You’

CEBU, Philippines — While many were swooning over KathNiel and JaDine, I found myself drawn to JoshLia, the love team of Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto, which began with their 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival starrer “Vince and Kath and James.”

There was something about their chemistry that strongly appealed to me which I hadn’t felt since the pairing of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz. It was so strong that I was willing to watch even their less-than-stellar projects (“I Love You, Hater”) just to see them together onscreen.

Of course, they had their big hits, some of which were underrated compared to their contemporaries’ films. Antoinette Jadaone’s “Love You to the Stars and Back” had a quirky concept where the then real-and-reel couple shone, and I still remember how their teleserye “Ngayon at Kailanman” took a bold risk with its Romeo-and-Juliet-style ending.

JoshLia also stepped out of their usual genre and showcased their versatility with the zombie-action film “Block Z,” directed by Mikhail Red.

When the couple broke up in 2019, I thought I’d never see them together onscreen again, especially after their appearance in Moira Dela Torre’s “Paubaya” music video in 2021 which felt like closure for them and their fans.

Yet three years later, JoshLia graces the big screen once more in “Un/Happy for You,” directed by Peterson Vargas, and produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films.

In their reunion movie, we see their characters, Juancho (Garcia) and Zy (Barretto), reuniting two years after their breakup. Zy, now an accomplished writer based in New York, returns to Bicol to cover the province’s cuisine. Juancho, a rising chef at his grandfather’s restaurant in Bicol, is still bitter about their breakup and attempts to sabotage her story.

The first act is tough to watch due to Juancho’s immaturity. While his reasons might be valid, damaging his ex’s career feels like a low blow, making it hard to sympathize with him, especially since it’s clear there’s more to their split than meets the eye.

Indeed, as the story shifts to Zy’s perspective, we see Juancho’s flaws fully exposed. This is when the movie becomes easier to digest, and the spark that made me a JoshLia fan began to shine through again.

Garcia and Barretto’s chemistry remains palpable, and this film feels tailor-made for them. Their individual performances add depth to their chemistry, showing how much they’ve grown as actors outside their love team bubble.

“Un/Happy for You” is also their most mature film to date, exploring the “will-they-won’t-they?” dynamic with a mix of cheesy, intense, and emotionally-charged scenes. It’s a much-needed evolution for a love team whose actors and fans are now adults.

Throughout the plot, John Lapus’ character JP, a potential investor in Juancho’s restaurant, adds an interesting layer. His personal story with a late lover and their connection to Bicol parallels Juancho and Zy’s arcs – a concept that I wish the movie had explored further. Among the supporting cast, Lapus is the standout.

It’s refreshing to see a love team movie where the location feels like a character in itself. The stunning sceneries of Bicol and Juancho’s mouth-watering dishes enhance the film’s sense of identity, perfectly complementing the characters’ journeys.

If I had to rank “Un/Happy for You” among my favorite JoshLia movies, I’d place it third. While I prefer the ambition of “Block Z” and Jadaone’s solid storytelling in “Love You to the Stars and Back,” “Un/Happy for You” still offers plenty to admire.

Seeing Garcia and Barretto together again was a treat, Lapus stole the show, and the cinematography alone makes it worth a re-watch despite the cringy first act.

No doubt, I’d tune in for another JoshLia movie in a few years. But if this does turn out to be their last, “Un/Happy for You” serves as a fitting finale for the JoshLia tandem – though I thought the same after the “Paubaya” music video, which is fittingly the film’s theme song.

With the film’s impressive box office performance – reportedly earning P150 million and nearly full cinema seats in its first week – it’s clear there’s still a strong audience for a JoshLia movie and I’m one of them. Three stars out of five. — (FREEMAN)