Movie Review: The Escort

Image courtesy of Instagram: leovdominguez

Cast: Christopher de Leon, Lovi Poe, Derek Ramsay
Director: Enzo Williams
MTRCB Rating: R-13
Released by: Regal Entertainment Inc.

How do you put a price on a woman’s virginity? How does society see a woman who values her virginity in this day and age? To what extent will  she succumb to give it all up?

The film " The Escort " shows how Yassi (Lovi Poe) single handedly faces the conflicting issues in her life while trying to stand up to preserve herself in the process.

Cyrus (Derek Ramsay) maintains an escort service agency that caters to an elite clientele. He meets pretty waitress Yassi and invites/lures her to work as a receptionist in his company with a much bigger paycheck as a come on.

" The Escort " gives the viewers a peek at an industry that is not openly  talked about, how escort girls deal with unimaginable difficulties from all sorts of clients in exchange for the big bucks and luxury at their disposal.

Director Enzo Williams, award-winning filmmaker known for his controversial film, Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, offers The Escort, a film with a fresh and interesting plot that has not been tackled before.

Days of working for the escort agency has exposed Yassi to the unsavory side of the business which she has managed to embrace if only for the money to feed and send her siblings to school. This is amid the pressure put on her by Cyrus to ’level up’ and join the other girls and meet clients out.  

Lovi fits her role to a T, her stunning presence is matched by her calm demeanor amid exchange of meaty dialogues between her and the two men who strongly desire her, her boss Cyrus and the widower and powerful businessman Gary Montenilla (Christopher de Leon).

The movie is also an eye-opener, relevant to the present, in this generation where only a handful care about values, where materialism matters more than anything.

Apart from the story, the movie has a good cast, Derek and Christopher are incredible bargainers who pursue to win Lovi’s heart. Its beautiful cinematography and music, notably those shots of Derek and Lovi in their steamy bed scenes, all done with taste, careful not to offend. Derek’s gentleman approach towards his partner is quite commendable.

Christopher’s character as Gary, a recently widowed businessman who is instantly smitten by Yassi and his strong resolve to have her at all cost is quite unconventional. His wheeler dealer reputation he uses to his advantage to get what he wants. His role is just as exciting and he could have been given more screen time.

All the other cast delivered no less, Dimples Romana, as an aging escort provided the funny punchlines. Jean Garcia as a two-timing mayor’s wife is a brave one here who is in for a surprise. The only miscast probably would be Rommel Padilla who is not convincing enough as a tough, corrupt, ex-convict mayor.

All told, The Escort may yet be Regal’s most relevant movie this year. If only the film outfit will be consistent in giving the movie going public well-thought out movies like this, then probably, they have a chance to regain their lost glory.

Other stars in the movie are Albie Casino, Jackie Lou Blanco, John James Uy. Catch it in cinemas.