“My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore” has no solid plot for the audience to follow.
Its emergence feels more like an obligation to the religious followers that made its stars a television and social network phenomenon, than a commitment to the art of film making. It already feels empty at first sight, but still ends up devoid of any attempt for artistry. It bears no palpable conflict, and the film basically just goes back and forth over petty issues that the narrative, itself, does not seem bothered to resolve.
There are several messed-up films with convoluted plots that still feel tolerable, at least, their entirety sprinkled with small but significant moments, bright enough to make the whole palatable, but this cheesy rom-com attempt simply lacks the right elements. It banks on the immense popularity of its actors, but deprives them with decent and workable material, that even they possess this seemingly inherent charm, the resulting product still feels generally bland.
Dondi (Alden Richards) and Ana (Maine Mendoza) are both under pressure from their overprotective guardians. Dondi is always obedient to his aunt Cora (Ai-ai de las Alas), Ana, in contrary, is a bit rebellious to his father, Vito (Vic Sotto). Their unexpected encounter sparks a love-at-first-sight romance, one both Cora and Vito won’t approve.
The conflict is limited in Ana and Dondi’s little revolts, their struggle confined within their desperation to get free of their respective parents (auntie, in Dondi’s case), who both conspired to stop their brewing romance from happening.
The proceedings are seemingly entirely committed going over and over again with its characters’ shallow issues—one moment they’re upon the younger pair, and another on the older. It goes in loops of tiring sameness and bland dialogues, and it deteriorates toward an utterly uninspired resolution.
The film is barely possessing an emotional core, and its comic attempts are often awkwardly misplaced. From time to time, Ai-Ai’s loud and noisy rants explode like shrieking shatter of glass, and they painfully sear through the ear.
Every new sequence features ad placements, each of them awfully inserted, and bears no evident effort to integrate with the plot. Well, there is barely any, in the first place.
If it is any consolation, the chemistry between Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, is oozingly evident. These two, when framed together, exudes no less than enchanting charm, and it shows even at the absence of a sensible storyline.
RATING: 5/10 (JE)
“My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore” is an official entry to the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival.
