Mamma Mia! Here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?

The lines above are from the ABBA's "Mamma Mia!" the song from which the title of the critically-acclaimed musical was taken. Those lines seem to be very appropriate for the movie, since the adaptation is very likable.

I can't help but compare Mamma Mia! to Across the Universe. (The former is based on songs of Swedish super group ABBA while the latter is based on The Beatles songs) While both musicals' material are drawn from ear-frienly tunes, Mamma Mia! doesn't take itself too seriously and is very true to its original sources. Another thing: the cast, led by Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, seem to have enjoyed making the movie.

Speaking of the cast, Meryl Streep proves that she can handle any role you can dish out to her. I last saw her in Rendition, where she played a dignified U.S. Vice-President. Now, she's dancing and frolicking as an ex-band leader who is stressed out about her daughter getting married.

The music and soundtrack is also very enjoyable. A friend of mine who watched the musical in London swears that the movie is very, very faithful to the stage version. Thanks to Phyllida Lloyd, who also directed the original ‘Mamma Mia!’ Broadway version. Music lovers will also appreciate versions of ABBA's hits such as "Dancing Queen", "S.O.S.", "Money, Money, Money", and "Take a Chance on Me."

To conlcude, here some more lines from "Mamma Mia!":
Mamma mia, now I really know
My my, I could never let you go




Rating: 4/5


Tags: Mamma Mia!

I loved Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, they were able to exude on-screen chemistry almost perfectly. In Fool's Gold, not even 100 years of alchemy can turn their tandem to on-screen gold.

The story is already a staple in treasure-hunt fare-- An intrepid treasure hunter and his brainy flame embark in a journey in search of royal riches, face baddies who are after the same thing, piece together the centuries old puzzle that leads them to the treasure, the baddies reach the treasure to set-up the climactic finale. The heroes win, and take home the treasure. Sounds like most adventure film, huh?

At least director Andy Tennant (Hitch, Sweet Home Alabama) tries to differentiate Fool's Gold by giving more than enough attention to the "rekindling the romance" angle between Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson. The focus on this aspect shows two things: the director is deft in incorporating a decent romance thread in to the adventure genre; second, this eventually eats up on the action and adventure the movie should have had.

The producers were probably looking for a gem that would appeal to both males and females in terms of action and romance. What they got was Fool's Gold.


Rating: 1.5/5


Tags: Fool's Gold

After watching Atonement, my girlfriend asked me what I though of the movie. I said, "What a sad, sad movie."

A sad movie it is. While I wasn't able to read the novel by Ian McEwan the film was based on, I could imagine it's a fine piece of work. The story itself is simple, but the weight of the unfolding events and the performances by the Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and newcomer Saoirse Ronan probably made this period drama Oscar-worthy.

Speaking of the story, Atonement is about a romance between a British heiress (Knightley) and an up and coming Cambridge fellow (McAvoy) and how a young, perhaps too imaginative pre-teen girl (Ronan) puts everything in a very unfavorable situation. A few years after their life-changing encounter, the three meet again and the drama of redemption and retribution happens. Anybody watching the movie should look out for the scene towards the end where the young girl is now a nurse and she confronts the couple in their derelict flat. Good stuff.

I wouldn't be surprised if you feel the need pop a Prozac after watching Atonement. It's a tragic romance that doesn't twaddle in the melodramatic.


Rating: 4/5


Tags: Atonement

I'm a huge Beatles fan and when I heard about a movie based on the Beatles' songs, I immediately got curious. The Beatles have been enjoying some healthy updates with the Beatles LOVE album and I figured the movie, Across The Universe, should be a contemporary take on the Beatles music.

I was partially correct. The movie doesn't feel dated, but was set in the 1960's, the same period as the Beatles' prime. The story also takes the same trajectory as the Fab Four-- the characters start in a clean-cut and innocent way and they all end up "enlightened" by drugs and jaded because of the radical times.

Speaking of the characters, the main pair is composed of Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood). The two are the typical forlorn lovers from different worlds-- Jude is a poor ship welder from Liverpool and Lucy is from a rich family living near the Princton University campus. Although they meet early on, their romance blooms when the two meet to New York after being separated for a few years.

If you noticed, the names of the lead characters are taken from Beatles songs. (Jude from "Hey Jude" and Lucy from "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds") This is quite common with the other characters in the movie. There's Sadie (from "Sexy Sadie"), Jojo (from "Get Back!"), Prudence (from "Dear Prudence") and Maxwell (from "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"). It's also interesting that the situations the characters are in more or less reflect how the songs describe them.

I admire how director Julie Taymor stitches the movie with the Beatles' songs but, as you can imagine, that would be only accomplished when you stretch a few story elements here and there. I would say it's ambitious, but not without missing a beat. But if a movie could use "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?" in the story, then it must count for something, right?


Rating: 3.5/5


Tags: Across The Universe

Regal Films and GMA Films' romantic comedy offering for this year's Valentine's season is My Best Friend’s Girlfriend (BFGF) starring Richard Gutierrez and celebrity-of-the-moment Marian Rivera.

The story revolves around Ivo (Gutierrez) who "hires" his best friend's girl friend Grace (Rivera) as his pretend significant other to make his ex (played by the bosomy Ehra Madrigal) jealous and eventually get back together. As you would imagine, the "transaction" takes some inconvenient complication when the Ivo and Grace fall for each other and they have to contend with Ivo's ex and best friend.

I have to admit, the movie is a good rom-com escape. The story doesn't try to be original (heck, the "let's pretend to be a couple" storyline has been done many times before.) but it's the chemistry between the characters played by Richard Gutierrez and Marian Rivera that carries the movie. The movie effectively finds humor on the fact that Ivo is a rich bum and Grace is a cash-strapped MA student, and it plays the "war of the social classes" comedy adequately. I'm a bit surprised the audience I watched the movie with found humor on some seemingly insignificant scenes. (Talk about unintentional comedy.)

This movie could spur the whole Richard Gutierrez-Marian Rivera screen couple to a good commercial and creative vehicle given the comfort of the two in melodrama and comedy. Watch this movie if you feel the need for a rom-com fix this Valentine's weekend with your friends.


Rating: 3/5


Tags: BFGF

After watching The Hearbreak Kid and Good Luck Chuck, I watched another wedding-related rom-com: 27 Dresses. (Hmmm... what's with the wedding movies producers are making these days?)

Grey's Anatomy mainstay Katherine Heigl follows up her strong performance in Knocked Up with this movie about the eternal bridesmaid-- with 27 wedding dresses to boot! James Marsden (X-Men, Superman) plays the male lead as the resident wedding announcements writer in their city's leading newspaper. If you ask me, a very interesting mix of characterizations for the lead characters, although it has "Wedding" written all over it.

The movie treads on the familiar romantic-comedy path, but adds little quirks here and there: Heigl's character, Jane, was a wedding junkie until her sister gets engaged; Marsden's Kevin Doyle is a regular in most weddings because his work required him to, and has become cynical about the whole "conspiracy" of the bridal and wedding industry, until he, of course falls for Jane.
Ultimately, I feel 27 Dresses is a concept movie, that is, the movie was built around the idea of a girl with 27 dresses and how it wonderfully wraps up in the rather predictable ending. And given the movies I've watched recently, I would probably say this movie is the Anti-Good Luck Chuck-- a good watch for the ladies.


Rating: 3/5


Tags: 27 Dresses

After watching Good Luck Chuck, I learned that Jessica Alba was nominated as Worst Actress of 2007 for her performance in this movie and that the leads Alba and Dane Cook were nominated for the Worst Screen Couple for 2007 at the Razzies.

How did that happen?

Well, it's really much of a shocker once you watch the film. Good Luck Chuck is a slapstick comedy that offers gross out humor and obviously wants to draw the young male demographic. Expect jokes on female breast augmentation surgery, promiscuity and, surprisingly, abstinence.

I totally agree with the Razzie nomination for Jessica Alba. Although she has yet to display sufficient acting talent in any of her movies, this movie is like tasting a bad burger in a fastfood place-- you're not expecting much, but this is just too awful. (And I thought Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer set a new acting low for Alba).

No doubt that the movie does have funny moments, but if you're not part of the movie's target's audience good luck with enjoying Good Luck Chuck.


Rating: 1.5/5


Tags: Good Luck Chuck

Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo (Neck-wringing, Uncertainty, Help) is the sequel to last year's sleeper hit of the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (Marriage, Member, Companion). This second movie of the series continues the story of a mismatched couple and how they cope with raising a child, as well as surviving new antics from the in-laws.

Members of the Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo cast are back to reprise their roles: most notably Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo as the young couple, with Gina Pareńo, Gloria Diaz and Ariel Ureta as the doting in-laws. Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo gives adequate exposure to the leads and this may be vehicle for them to replicate last year's MMFF awards haul.

However, I found the movie lacking the wit and humor of its predecessor. Perhaps Director Jose Javier Reyes could be suffering from rom-com fatigue? This movie is the second film he helmed for the film festival, with the other being Katas ng Saudi. His writing is sharp on the first act, but slips into a more run-off-the-mill melodrama in the last act.

Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo may be a victim of its predecessor's success-- the story looks a bit uninspired and dull when stacked against the gem that is Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo. People who watched last year may be disappointed this year.


Rating: 3/5

Tags: Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo

How does a lovely couple of five years get back together after breaking up?

That's the question the movie One More Chance tries to answer. The good thing is that the film presents a situation that answers the question with more correctness than goofs.

The couple central to the story is Popoy (John Lloyd Cruz) and Basha (Bea Alonzo) . Their story is given enough background-- they were college sweethearts who, after five years, get engaged. The conflict of the movie arises when Basha gets fed up with Popoy's controlling ways and opts to have more space and personal growth by breaking up with Popoy. Popoy, on the other hand, is devastated as his plans are quashed and deals with the break-up unwisely. The story moves forward and gets better at that point.

What I like about the movie is the good exposition of how people these days deal with break-ups and how the people/environment that surrounds them (friends, family, work, etc.) is affected by the personal turmoil. What I don't like is the very weak supporting cast-- it was virtually a hodge-podge of vets and newbies that really do not make their marks in the movie. Also, I found the last third of the movie a bit too contrived to let the loose ends tie together sloppily.

One More Chance is a movie an older audience would appreciate (as opposed to I've Fallen For You) and people would enjoy it for its honesty, good balance of tear-jerking moments and a solid performance by John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.

Rating: 3.5/5


Tags: One More Chance

If someone asked me to describe Knocked Up in on sentence, it would be "Really funny with realistic situations." The contemporary humor with not so far-fetched situations is really the center of this comedy.

From a star power point of view, Knocked Up is lightweight-- relative unknowns Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl star as the mismatched couple, but the writing and characters make this movie make it worth your while. The treatment of how this relationship evolves from a fateful one night stand to to one that goes through the issues people face right now, is very good.

Who would enjoy this movie? It's primarily for folks who can appreciate goof-ball humor and witty dialogue and recurring jokes (e.g. a long-running beard joke). The movie doesn't go over the top and has enough sensibility for the female audience.

Knocked Up is a long movie about a messy and funny relationship, but really bears fruit in the end.


Rating: 4.5/5

Tags: Knocked Up

Jason Biggs will always be known to me as the guy in American Pie. The last installment of that trilogy ended with him tying the knot and his latest starrer Wedding Daze (aka "The Pleasure of Your Company"), he seems to draw a lot from his earnest character in American Pie to play Anderson, a likable guy who has difficulty letting go.

The movie poses the question: "Can two complete strangers get married and live happily ever after?" and answers it in a naive, but too Hollywood way. With movies like The Wedding Crashers and recently I Pronounce You Chuck and Larry looking at interesting angles of matrimony, Wedding Daze focuses on the relationship of the husband and wife with much quirkiness.

Speaking of quirkiness, the cast of the movie is very small, but used effectively. Isla Fisher is bubbly in a not so annoying way and could me a Romantic Comedy genre fixture. The characters are interesting and the interactions among them show us how director Michael Ian Black is good in avoiding bloat in the storytelling. The movie actually reminds me of Little Miss Sunshine in a lot respects.

Wedding Daze is a very intimate and is has a good mix of quirkiness and humor to sustain it, albeit the predictable ending.

Rating: 3.5/5

Tags: Wedding Daze

Derived from the 1991 film Mostly Martha, No Reservations is really more of a drama than a romantic comedy-- It's very serious and the romance is just peripheral.

Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Kate, a very uptight executive chef in a restaurant called 22 Bleecker. She's single and undergoing therapy and her life experiences more upheaval when she unexpectedly gains custody of her niece (Little Miss Sunshine's Abigail Breslin). The first 40 minutes of the movie will focus on the changes in Kate's life and work as she tries to be a mother figure.

The reason why I say the romance is peripheral because Aaron Eckhart, the leading man, does not appear midway to the movie. The chemistry between his character, Nick, and Kate is very bland despite the fact that Nick is supposed to be the spontaneous foil to Kate. I was also hoping to see more kitchen scenes for the two.

Romantic comedy buffs will find No Reservations too dragging and too painstaking. I seriously feel the movie did not maximize the whole chefs in love angle and I think cooking concept idea was a good one, but this movie doesn't quite pan out.


Rating: 2/5

Tags: No Reservations

I've Fallen For You is a debut on a couple of levels. First, it is the first movie starring ABS-CBN's love tandem of the moment, Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, and director Lino Cayetano. While it features fresh faces, the movie does not seem to have beginner's luck.

The story is as straight as the alignment of the bikes that are fixtures throughout the movie-- Two college teens meet cute, get to know each other, fall in love, get their hearts broken, then get back together (but there's a subplot pertaining to their parents' past). The love story is also very contemporary (e.g. texting is a major couple activity, the dating phase is swift and each of their families are open to their relationship). Actually, I think watching the movie is a good way to know how teenagers these days get together.

However, the pair (affectionally called "KIMERALD" by their fans) is simply too raw. It also does not help that Kim and Gerald both seem to speak with their own speech impediments. Their lines are also memorable in a bad way. ("We are like a bicycle, you're the first wheel and I'm the second. It won't run if one of us is missing." spoken in Filipino). The good is that the supporting cast of Albert Martinez, Chin-chin Gutierrez and Lotlot De Leon serve as the movie's crutches wonderfully.

After watching I've Fallen For You, I got a good sense who this movie is for. It's for pre-teens and high schoolers discovering romance and relationships. And I don't definitely fall into that category.

Rating: 1.5/5


Tags: I've Fallen For You

A Love Story is an ambitious romantic drama where some viewers may find a bit challenging to watch. Why? For one, the story telling is done in a non-linear manner and Director Maryo J. Delos Reyes withholds several key information that leads up to a well-executed reveal.

The central story is not new-- it is about a married man (Aga Muhlach) caught up in an affair. The questions you would ask as a viewer are questions you probably know the answer to. (e.g. "Who does he end up with, his wife or his mistress?" or "Who deserves to be happy?"). The women in the triangle (a restrained Maricel Soriano and a melodramatic Angelica Panganiban) do a nice job of pulling the male lead in their respective corners. And like I've said, the beauty of the movie is how everything unfolds.

The weakness of the movie is how it develops into a melodrama after the big "twist" was revealed. The plot became somewhat predictable and the ending itself was a bit anti-climactic. Good thing supporting actors like John Arcilla, Chin Chin Gutierrez and Dante Rivero give texture to the characterizations even until the end.

A Love Story is a new take on the time-tested love triangle (at least for the contemporary Philippine Cinema) and its indirectness will either charm or confuse some people.


Rating: 3/5

Tags: A Love Story

The Philippine movie industry has been sputtering since the start of the millennium. The local studios seem to be satisfied with promoting accessible love stories that rake in the cash. The latest cash cow in the offing is Paano Kita Iibigin ("How would I Love You").

Joyce Bernal seem to go on cruise control in her latest project. While the story has its textures, the movie is generally uninspiring. Central to the this tepid romance is Regine Velasquez and Piolo Pascual, playing Martee and Lance respectively.

Martee is the down-in-her-luck single mom who finds a job in the unlikeliest of places-- a down-trodden resort with a devoted Christian staff. (The folks keep on saying "God is good" a lot of times). Lance, on the other hand, is the resort owner trying to forget his checkered past and seems to enjoy being a total jerk to everyone. The two are not a good match, but they do try. The age difference of the actors (Ms. Velasquez is almost 10 years older than Piolo) seems to take its toll on their credibility as a screen couple. The good point is that the supporting cast does a masterful job of keeping things interesting (Eugune Domingo is as funny as always) and the movie has its share of humorous moments.

While this highly-marketed movie performed as expected on the box office, it didn't really make a splash from the creative side of things. And as far as the splashes go, the movie seems to be satisfied in making splashy scenes with the two pretty leads.

Rating: 2.5/5

Tags: Paano Kita Iibigin

Is life like the game of chance? Lucky You thinks it's a game of poker.

Curtis Hanson (8 Mile, L.A. Confidential) directs this low-key and restrained film which I have to say is more of a personal drama than a romance. (While the trailers seem to present this as a rom-com on Vegas, it is really more about a man's struggle with his issues.)

Central to the story is Huck Cheever (Eric Bana), a compulsive gambler who goes through odds and ends to raise money to enter the World Series Poker tournament. Along the way, he meets a naive lounge singer (Drew Barrymore) and sparks hardly fly. He also deals with moving out of his poker legend father L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall).

While the movie is solid, especially on the casino scenes, it's disappointing with how the movie just comes off flat right off the bat. Limited screen time between Bana and Barrymore even pulls the movie down on its own drama weight. Poker players will find it refreshing to see some cameos from real pro poker players.

The movie deals a straight flush for poker lovers, but a bad hand for ordinary folks.

Rating: 2.5/5

Tags: Lucky You

Wow, a period romance starring Renée Zellweger!

She seems to be on here element whenever she plays a charming female lead (Jerry Maguire, Chicago) but this movie, she shows more restraint while maintaining a dose of healthy quirkiness to Beatrix Potter.

Beatrix Potter is the author and creator of Peter Rabbit, which makes her the J.K. Rowling of the early 1900's. Her story is one of melodramatic romance book material-- she was unmarried into her early 30's, which was pretty much a social death wish in her era, when meets an unassuming English publisher, played by Ewan McGregor. The whirlwind of romance was there, complete with joy and heartbreak.

One aspect I appreciated was the effort of the creative and production team to show the social atmosphere of the 1900's, from the ultra-conservative romance and the view on women and singlehood. The story is very solid and the chemistry that Zellweger and McGregor had in Down With Love was there, of course, 1900's style.

Clearly a chick-flick, I'd give this two thumbs up... if I were a 30 something single woman.

Rating: 3.5/5
Tags: Miss Potter