Review: It Takes a Man and a Woman

Yes, I am at least two weeks late. But yes, I am still writing about it, which should tell you a lot about what I thought about this movie. Spoiler alert: two thumbs up, a few salty tears, and a belly aching from laughter.

Star Cinema and Viva Film‘s latest outing It Takes a Man and a Woman reunites Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz in their blockbuster roles as the cheerful yet painfully naive Laida Magtalas and blunt, egotistic, son of a billionaire Miggy Montenegro. The first scenes roll in, confusing avid fans of the series as the dynamic duo were revealed to have broken up after their funny reunion in the preceding film You Changed My Life. With Miggy’s future in the family conglomerate hanging by a thread due to a slew of expensive mistakes, his brother Art (played to a T by Rowell Santiago) calls in Laida, now with a credible career and American (say it with me) connections to her name to help save their magazine Flippage. The film reveals the reasons behind their break up through well placed flashbacks as Laida and Miggy butt heads and clash in the tightly wound tension of their unresolved issues – Laida was on the other side of the world when Miggy needed her, and Miggy, in a moment of weakness (pft. MEN) kissed another woman.

Just like A Very Special Love and You Changed My Life, the final installment of the romantic saga does not have a groundbreaking premise, and it does not pretend to. The success of the film is anchored on the unlikely yet organic chemistry of Geronimo and Cruz, and the actors’ commitment to the follies and dramatics of their characters. The sun dance does not get old, and who did not sing along to that off-tune version of Kailan? Likewise, it would be pretentious of me to not admit that I was in helpless tears in that  elevator scene, where the estranged couple finally air it out in one intense moment of honesty and closure. Their story, though not new, was relatable and genuinely played.

Zoila and Friends deserve their own tribute, as I personally thought the movie would have been dull without them. Props to Joross Gamboa for his genius comedic timing. My favorite excerpt: Taguan tayo ah, taguan ng feelings. One, two, three…

The movie’s wins aside, it still disappointingly fell into the trap of a traditional Filipino movie ending. May I ask, would anyone in the real world actually want a teary and heartfelt marriage proposal in the middle of an airport bustling with passengers and crew singing and swaying to the couple’s theme song? I personally do not get the hook. The vows to me were also too long and overindulgent. Just ask the sleepy priest. But then I guess after all they have been through, Laida and Miggy deserve their fairy tale ending. Just as much as their die hard fans deserve that kissing (?) scene. The boy and girl were matured by distance, pain and forgiveness into a man and a woman. All’s well that ends well, and I was just happy to be laughing and crying for that solid run.