When plot falters, give them another close-up of John Lloyd
Notes on You Changed My Life, directed by Cathy Garcia Molina, starring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo.
1. The sound is Manila jeepney quality. Apparently the sound was recorded, edited and mixed on a karaoke machine.
2. The top-grossing Filipino movie of 2007 (outside the Metro filmfest): Star Cinema’s One More Chance directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and starring John Lloyd Cruz.
The top-grossing Filipino movie of 2008: Star Cinema’s A Very Special Love directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and starring John Lloyd Cruz.
The top-grossing Filipino movie of 2009 (by our indicator: full house on a Friday night): Star Cinema’s You Changed My Life directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina and starring John Lloyd Cruz.
At least 50 percent of these movies consist of close-ups of John Lloyd Cruz.
3. Sarah Geronimo seems pleasant enough so we don’t understand why she’s made to wear Davy Crockett’s hat. At first it was sitting up and begging for peanuts. Later it looked like the raccoon had died.
4. Rayver Cruz is very white and has Angelina Jolie lips.
5. It’s a sequel so if you didn’t watch A Very Special Love you won’t be able to follow the plot. I’m kidding.
6. John’s character runs a publishing company called Flippage. One syllable less and I would’ve sued.
7. Somebody says “I love you” every 45 seconds. We get it, they love each other.
8. Wow, full coverage of a children’s party. In olden times men had to do battle for the love of a woman. Now they just have to do the statue dance.
9. Movie starring John Lloyd Cruz means paracetamol product placement means all his movies must show someone with a headache. Why don’t you just give tablets away at the entrance? No pizza this time, though.
10. Upon seeing the bridesmaid’s dress we were seized with an uncontrollable urge to eat sapin-sapin.
11. What might tear them apart: he can’t drive her to work and drive her home to Marikina every day because he’s running a company in Laguna. Honey, if you want to see your boyfriend every single day, you should date the unemployed.
12. Mandatory humiliation in final scene: Star Cinema’s winning formula.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
February 28th, 2009 at 00:58
Quick, can anyone in this intelligent site think of any recent Pinoy teenage love story that actually makes/made sense, has a logical/acceptable plot,doesn’t rely on a song title or a place for its movie title,doesn’t have a rich boy-poor girl issue complete with English speaking and cursing haciendero parents,isn’t shot abroad,doesn’t have a funny sidekick or gay character, doesn’t have a crying scene,doesn’t have a hospital/funeral scene, doesn’t have a tweetums theme song, doesn’t have prolonged close-up shots, and isn’t directed by people who should be doing something else instead of directing? Incidentally, many movies made in the 1970’s have slow motion scenes in the beach where the male lead chases the bikini-clad female lead. In the end, the guy would catch the girl and carry her while spinning. As a boy, I’d think: what if the girl carries the guy for a change? Many of those were filmed in Cavite’s beaches. Imagine that. Then someone/everyone breaks into a song and dance number. This is why I love Looney Tunes cartoons even up to now.
February 28th, 2009 at 04:24
a couple of years ago, especially during the tabing ilog (ABS’ version of dawson’s creek), john lloyd looked like the father of kaye abad’s character…but now, wow, he works his charms easily like opening a bag of potato chips.
February 28th, 2009 at 06:02
I actually liked A Very Special Love and I was looking forward to the sequel. I was aso hoping that you would review it. On the other hand, I was also hoping against hope that it would be good. More childish dreams shattered. Thanks again! :p
Cheers.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:03
havent seen a very special love. no movie theater in our probinsya. so i guess i have to wait for it on free tv.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:05
On note #1: I thought it was just the cinema where we saw it (SM Cebu Cinema 8). Apparently not. Unless you saw it there as well. Probably not. I don’t see you flying half-way across the country to see John Lloyd Cruz.
On note #2: Those in our group who also saw the first one said this one is inferior. So this is probably debatable. But then why bother debating this? Hehe…
On note #5: Hahaha… I didn’t see the first one so I’m as lost as Jack Bauer with GPS-enabled phone and Chloe on my comlink.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:20
bwaha.ha.ha!
February 28th, 2009 at 17:11
Thanks for the review. I’m based here in LA and will be watching the premiere here with two groups of friends: the first group comprises of co-workers with ages ranging from 20 to 60; the other from my own age group of 25 to 35. Despite the slight age disparities, they only have one reason to see this movie: John Lloyd Cruz! And yes, he will be at the premiere… And yes, I saw A Very Special Love with this same group of friends. My purpose for seeing this movie? (To borrow one of your much-loved terms) To be a professional insulter!Hope I’d give my part some justice…
February 28th, 2009 at 23:10
I’d still watch it, and I know I’ll enjoy it… Because frankly with those kinds of movies, you don’t think, when you start thinking, that’s when you stop enjoying…
define irony… i love reading your blog and your works, Jessica… and I also love watching those kinds of films…:P
February 28th, 2009 at 23:13
and I think you’re right… The John Lloyd close-ups really work:)
March 1st, 2009 at 01:52
“Why don’t you just give tablets away at the entrance? No pizza this time, though.” merong “pizza scene” di ba?
March 1st, 2009 at 04:05
Actually, there was a Greenwich pizza placement. That’s where the manufacturing team met to discuss the expansion of their business.
Other notable product placements: Belo Essentials (in the exact same scene as AVSL), Bench, and Jollibee.
March 2nd, 2009 at 09:48
I cried when I watched. Al Tantay has gone on in years! I remember him in the mid-80s, taking a bath in black briefs at the communal water pump in Naked Island. I missed him so much.
March 4th, 2009 at 01:40
Franzi:
You should add there in your list any recent Pinoy teenage love story that doesn’t blatantly push stuff into your face.
Which is why I am looking forward to an action-film revival in this corner of the world. Pinoy showbiz is sadly dominated by goily men and mannequins!!!
March 4th, 2009 at 14:09
I still have that last song syndrome thing ringing in my ears.