Facets of love

MANILA, Philippines - Film reviews: Every Breath U Take and Born To Love You

The recent film output of Star Cinema has given us interesting facets of love as reflected in today’s generation.

They are generally classified by a film wag as kilig films and from the way they are promoted, you get the idea that today’s film audiences are gullible to various levels of film promotion gimmicks.

The idea is to flaunt so-called new love angles, test new love teams and make the story believable to followers of this lucrative film genre (the recent blockbusters come from this goldmine).

But a film like Every Breath U Take directed by Mae Czarina Cruz has simply nothing going for it. Handled by the same director who did the Sam Milby-Anne Curtis starrer Babe, I Love You and the Sarah Geronimo-Gerald Anderson starrer Catch Me…I’m In Love, Every Breath feels like another contrived story that is supposed to be saved by star power and box-office results and hopefully with a modicum of good acting.

Even as Angelica Panganiban remains a very engaging performer, Piolo Pascual doesn’t quite contribute to any semblance of good rapport. As an ambition-driven real estate salesman, Piolo registers very well as a driven guy in the corporate jungle. But their love scenes tilt in favor of Angelica who has more animal appeal than the so-called hunk who gives his role only the perfunctory touch that doesn’t quite help ignite the screen.

As for its story, this film looks like an overextended sitcom. The supporting roles —of Carlos Agassi, Ryan Eigenmann, Smokey Manaloto, Ketchup Eusebio, Joross Gamboa, Janus del Prado, Wendy Valdez, Regine Angeles, Cacai Bautista, Frenchie Dy and Nova Villa —confirm this.

Born To Love You, starring Coco Martin and Angeline Quinto, is a perfect example that you can do a kilig film without looking silly and contrived.

Every breath you take watching this film is an exercise in prolonged boredom.

But a highly refreshing relief is the release of  Born To Love You, sensitively directed by Jerome Chavez Pobocan.

Everything about this film is real and the story-telling gently unfolds without predictable results.

Even the newcomer, Angeline Quinto, turns out to be a natural talent and she was a perfect foil to the restless soul that is the character of Coco Martin who delivers an incandescent performance worthy of another award.

Even the screenplay by Rondel Lindayag looks fresh and engaging.

A film like Born To Love You is a perfect example that you can do kilig films without looking silly and contrived.

Even as I have reservations about its happy ending (which I know is meant to cater to a previous formula), much of this film is commendable.

This film redeems the silliness of Every  Breath U Take and I am glad Coco is able to pull off a new role with riveting result.