Movie Review: My Ex and Whys

Image courtesy of www.starcinema.abs-cbn.com

Main Cast: Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil
Director: Cathy Garcia Molina
MTRCB Rating: PG
Released by: Star Cinema

Judging from its trailer, one would have a feeling that “My Ex and Whys “ would just be one of those ‘formulaic’ romantic love stories yet again by its director Garcia Molina whose past movies were the usual ‘pakilig’ stories, starred in by the country’s popular love teams - for impact and commercial box-office success. Interestingly, many were happy to be proven wrong. The movie’s trailer didn’t give it justice.

The film is a story about trust and second chances. Cali Ferrer (Liza Soberano) is a call center agent slash popular blogger with a huge following. Her blog, “The Bakit List “ looks like it was borne out of a failed relationship with Gio Martinez (Enrique Gil), her ex-boyfriend who broke her heart so bad. Her personal situation in the home front is in it, too, when her family suffered after her father abandoned them for another woman.

That and everything in between make Cali distrust (read: hate) all men with a passion. She vents her ire on her blog, often asking questions through her endless ‘why’s’. Needless to say, that’s what her blog is all about.

Online, Gio is a “DahilList” boy who reaches out to Cali and defends himself and questions her for lumping all them men with her bitterness. He tries to prove to her that he is not what she labels him and is deserving of a second chance. But the unforgiving, deeply pained and man-hater Cali closes the door on him. Their twitter fights go viral – until something happens that changes the whole gamut of their emotions.

The movie is a bit fast-paced, well-written with witty lines and a good comedy that delivers. It is laden with so many characters providing support and laughs for the lead stars and the viewers, respectively. Ryan Bang as Cali and Gio’s best friend is a riot, keeping the audience in stitches each time he opens his mouth to deliver his ‘pasabog’.

Many can relate with the story of trust issues. When Cali wants to challenge Gio’s resolve as a changed man by setting him up to trap him and prove to netizens how fake Gio is, completely unmindful of the huge consequences that they may entail, when her very own mother (Ara Mina) at some point loses herself and turns a blind eye on her philandering husband, when Gio’s all-male family gives him all their support, including love and approval for their skirt-chasing father (Joey Marquez).

Give it to the writer who knows how to discriminate between a good and bad script, between what really entertains and educates, to what is just for shallow laughs that insults. May we request them ‘though to do away with “chasing the traffic to make it to the airport” drama scene? It had seen better days, please make it rest.

As for the two lead stars: for all that she has to face and do in the movie – Liza delivers with aplomb. With or without her perfectly-chiseled face, whether she is in cool or tattered outfits, the young actress has shown what she is made of – depth. Ditto with Enrique who continues to level up and not just capitalize on his looks by doing “pa-cute” acting.

Certainly, Cali and Gio have learned about relationships the hard and painful way. How they were able to iron out their wrinkled relationship is certainly worth watching.

All told, may this be a good start for Star Cinema to evolve and rethink and to truly value their viewers by giving them what they truly deserve.

Bottom line: “ My Ex and Whys “ is about love and second chances. Most of all, trust – either you suffer for lack of it, or love because it can get better.

 
Also in the movie are Arlene Muhlach, Cai Cortez, Jeffrey Tam, Joross Gamboa, Dominique Roque and Hyubs Azarcon.