Unofficially Yours (yes, the movie)

Okay, this isn’t an attempt to write a movie review. I don’t think I’ve ever done one but yes, I’ve had my moments when I did tell my friends about my opinions on some movies I've watched.  Also, this entry may contain few spoilers.

Unofficially Yours is a locally produced movie by a respected film production company here in the Philippines. It stars John Lloyd Cruz (Mackie)  and Angel Locsin (Ces). The movie is basically about a relationship that started with a very hot one-night stand on a beach that unexpectedly continued back home in Manila and turned into a complicated one-way thing, emotionally that is, that as what many would predict, found a happy ending.

The movie as a whole is good. In fact, I'd say this is better than previous attempts of the Star Cinema to present a more adult approach when it comes to relationships that exists between a man and a woman.  However as the movie progresses, one can feel the director’s hesitance to continuously stay on this angle; somewhere along the way,  it seemed that director had a change of heart when it comes to the “boldness” of the movie and attempted to put in some “cute” moments between the two lead actors. Undeniably, there is that so-called chemistry between Angel and John Lloyd, but then again, the hesitation by the director can be felt and has at some parts of the movie, made it dragging.

 Between Mackie and Ces’ characters, it was with Mackie’s with whom I have identified more. Ironic huh?! Mackie whose decency wouldn’t allow him to let go of his one-night stand with Ces go unexplained and whose capacity to love is just beyond anything one can imagine (i.e., a former girlfriend wanted to become a Dentist, so Mackie took up the same course, become a Dentist when in fact, what he wanted was to be a writer). To people who aren’t ready to receive this kind of love (in the movie, Ces’ character), this is quite scary. And willingly loving someone without any boundaries and yet being held at an arm’s length is very painful. I know this because I was in that situation not too long ago.

As earlier said, I find this movie better than the earlier films of the same genre from Star Cinema.  And as always, the lines that were written and delivered are the ones that ordinary people can readily relate to.

In summary, the movie imparts the message that in matters of this thing called LOVE, the pains, hurts and struggles of the past shouldn’t get in the way of one’s chance in finding that one person who will willingly love you for what you have been and what you are now.

I really like that scene between Ces and her mother and the exchanges between them, notably, when Ces asked her Mom, who is depicted as someone who goes from one man to another, “Don’t you get of getting hurt by men?” The Mom answered, “It’s not that I don’t get tired of getting hurt, I just don’t get tired of loving”. And Ces asked “why?” and the Mom replied: “Because if I get tired and stop loving, then how will I ever find that person who’s really intended for me?”  Makes sense, right?

I left the theatre feeling better than I have for the last 2 months. No, it didn’t make me ready to get into a new relationship, but somehow, it has answered my question about past hurts affecting the present; and that it is a personal choice whether to let go of those hurts and start trusting again. :) 

Happy watching, everyone!