JP Laxamana brings across complex ‘sugar dating’ topic in rom-com

Film review: Baby Boy, Baby Girl

MANILA, Philippines — There are love stories and there are memorable love stories. What if a not-so-common integral topic gets made as the subject of the love story? Will the story get complicated or will the plot eventually dwindle?

Viva Films’ newest romantic-comedy, Baby Boy, Baby Girl, with Marco Gumabao and Kylie Verzosa in the title roles, directed by love story expert Jason Paul “JP” Laxamana, managed to bring across the complex sugar dating topic, but weaves the plot across beautifully.

Kylie plays Josie, a down-on-her-luck lady trying all sorts of small businesses — from selling leche flan and throw pillows to working as part-time usherette and server — to make both ends meet.

However, despite her hard work, she could hardly pay her bills. One day, her electricity was cut off and she had no means to pay, with only P50 bucks left on her purse.

One night of working as a part-time server in an event, Josie was so surprised to see her former flame, Sebastian “Seb” Soliman, looking so dignified. They reconnected and ended up in his apartment.

She was so impressed to see how a mere cleaning guy who was once her boyfriend, rose to become a moneyed man who can afford the luxuries in life, complete with a high-end flat.

Seb revealed he is into sugar dating. He pointed out, however, that it is different from prostitution, as he explained to Josie how sugar dating works. He is merely paid per hour escorting his dates or spending time with them, without using his body.

“You control the relationship when you’re sugar dating,” Seb told Josie. “You’re the prize. You are not his girlfriend. It’s all business.” Well, that is always easier said than done.

Since no relationship exists, but merely a regular connection, you are not required to say “I love you.” There are no “sentimental bullshits” needed as you go along. You will be showered with expensive gifts, from clothes, bags and jewelry to cash, plus added dole-outs.

This made Josie conclude that Seb is a “high-class pokpok” or still a prostitute in a different sense. She was amused but super interested.

Seb eventually recruited Josie to go into sugar dating. In her first attempt alone, she went home with a lot of loot. Her eventual prized catch turned out to be Lourd, a rich businessman played by Rey “PJ” Abellana.

Unknown to Josie, however, Lourd is married. So there came a point where the legal wife (Marissa Sanchez) confronted the sugar baby or what the wife easily concluded as the mistress.

The confrontation was very civil, not the hair-pulling, shouting match usual for wife-mistress unfortunate meeting. In fact, Marissa, known as a comedienne, figured in a serious dramatic scene when she even touched Josie’s face and acknowledged that Josie was really beautiful. But Marissa had a breakdown in front of her husband later.

The very civil confrontation was reminiscent of what Dawn Zulueta did with Bea Alonzo, who played the mistress of Richard Gomez in director Nuel Naval’s The Love Affair (2015).

Stars, who agreed to fall into the expensive bait of Seb and Josie, included Giselle Sanchez, Gary Lim and even director Easy Ferrer as their sugar mommies and daddies.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end. The sugar dating days of Seb and Josie eventually ended — or so they did end the expensive trysts. They managed to venture into their respective money-making businesses.

The paths of Seb and Josie did get to cross again, as they led their brand-new lives. He became the owner of a cleaning services company, while she engaged in event planning. A lunch date led to the erstwhile baby boy and baby girl getting back together again.

The film was given an R-16 rating because of the sexy scenes, where Marco and Kylie were merely clad in skimpy outfits. There were no sex scenes, only tender kissing scenes, but their acting was commendable.

It apparently helped that they were previously together in half-a-dozen films, so Baby Boy, Baby Girl was a project that they seriously mastered for their acting prowess.