by Randy R.I. Espinoza
My apologies to those who loved the
movie, but I didn’t find much “real” value in one of the year’s most successful
screen offerings that stars two of the top teen stars of local Tinseltown,
Kathleen Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, otherwise known as KathNiel. Perhaps
because I’m biased toward indie cinema’s in-your-face grittiness and social
realism. Or is it because I’m more tolerant of the likes of KimXian & JaDine?
Okay, the main stars are probably
show biz’s most popular love team, touted as the young generation's Guy and Pip
(but then there’s also James Reid and Nadine Lustre, that other popular tandem
who may be considered today's Vilma and Edgar, who are out to challenge the
former couple's supremacy :-) ). The flick was produced by Star Cinema, the
biggest movie outfit in the country. These very factors could have contributed
much to the artificiality of the entire production. What do you expect?
Drizzles of cheesiness all over, of course. ‘Cause that’s what sells. And
that's what the fans want. So never mind the picture-perfect Pinatubo and the
fascinating katutubong Aetas. They just serve as the backdrop and the
decorative extras to add color and flavor and boost the production design. No
real discursive analysis of family conflict and relationships but more forgive-and-forget,
kiss-and-make-up, young-love/sweet-love, love-conquers-all,
all's-well-that-ends-well sentiments that gloss over the serious issues.
