Lovi outdoes self

MANILA, Philippines - Stealing thy neighbor’s partner or fighting over a trophy boyfriend has become a staple theme in Pinoy movies. This has been revived and fashioned with witty, quotable lines and grand, melodramatic confrontation. Regal Entertainment, Inc. is in the midst of the sexy melodrama trend; My Neighbor’s Wife is one example, where Lovi Poe’s character sleeps with her friend’s husband.

In The Bride and The Lover, on the other hand, Lovi takes the defensive side. And she is up for the challenge to outdo her performance in My Neighbor’s Wife in the Joel Lamangan big-screen outing. By the way, the summer movie will open May 1 in theaters nationwide.

“This one is very different,” offers Lovi. “(Moviegoers) will see a different Lovi. Hopefully, I’ve got to attack the role in a different manner. I don’t think they will remember my My Neighbor’s Wife work.”

What will be etched in the mind of cineastes and the movie-going public is the importance of the affairs they’ve made and they’ve been nurturing.     

“Honestly, the thing that matters to us, Filipinos, is love and relationships, instead of something superficial. Yun talaga yung mga hilig nating mga Filipino. (The movie) does speak about us and the things that we are actually going through. It’s not just about having affairs. It’s about keeping your friendship. There’s a difference between having someone (who is bent to snatch your loved one). It is also different if it’s your friend who happens to be that person. Ibang usapan na yun.”

Jennylyn Mercado plays the character who will also fight for the attention of Paulo Avelino, Jennylyn and Lovi’s object of love and desire. 

The Bride and The Lover is a welcome addition to Lovi’s promising filmography, which shows her versatility as an actress exploring different genres and going beyond stereotypes. 

“As an artist, once I read the script, I’d make sure to try to get into the character,” says Lovi of her creative process. “I have this problem that I’ll bring it home — whatever character I’m portraying, I tend to be that person sometimes. What I do is I talk to my director. That’s why I’m thankful to director Joel Lamangan because he knows exactly what to say for me to explore the character.” Lovi adds that there “are certain scripts that I study. There are certain scripts that I don’t.” She works better when she’s not overdoing something. If she studies the role thoroughly, the performance will become rehearsed. This approach, however, works for some people, says Lovi. “But for me, it doesn’t. I want to be spontaneous.” This sense of rawness and naturalness will be seen in the steamy scenes and cat fights in The Bride and The Lover. Direk Joel instructed Lovi and Jennylyn to “really fight, box and slap.” But perhaps another challenging part was when Lovi had to show her character’s aggressiveness in bed.

“I can say that I’m proud mostly of the things I’ve done because of the people that I’ve got to work with,” Lovi shares. “It’s not just about me. It’s about teamwork — our director, my co-actors. I’m proud of the whole team.”

One project after another, Lovi has a way to surprise moviegoers — and maybe herself, too. Surely, there is more up in her sleeve.