It’s not easy to shrug off a film that seemingly exerts its best efforts to strike a chord with its audience.
Star Cinema’s “Just The 3 Of Us” doesn’t exactly appear defying any conventions of its genre, and in fact utilizes them to enable its lead actors to deliver the very sentiments of the narrative. In most parts, the attempt comes out forced, but ends up presenting an entertaining piece, that isn’t deprived of charm, nonetheless.
The latest from blockbuster director, Cathy Garcia-Molina, and the first team up of John Lloyd Cruz and Jennylyn Mercado, who are both deemed highly successful in the rom-com genre, “Just The 3 Of Us” takes the traditional Filipino romcom formula, in its bid to join the heap of both actors’ impressive filmography.
It’s an unnecessary effort, obviously, and the truth is, both Cruz and Mercado don’t need each other to secure their places in the rom-com territory, nor to prove they can still offer more with a tried-and-tested formula. For two actors who have both already delivered their best yet through critically-acclaimed performances in the non-conventional cinema (“Honor Thy Father” and “Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis” for Cruz, “Rosario” for Mercado), the collaboration for a project they don’t necessarily need, may arch some brows.
This isn’t Molina’s best, and the argument that it’s her weakest yet may earn some nods, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a terrible film. It’s good for its entirety, and while the narrative drags at some point, there are countless small but significant moments to compensate for such shortcoming—ones utterly enough to exude an electrifying appeal.
The comic effort pulled is particularly commendable, but there are some moments when they’re deployed at awfully wrong places. The visual flair is also unmissable on most crucial moments of the film. There are some flaws editing-wise, but where it pays utmost attention, the film’s exquisite cinematography enforces its most breathtaking moments, singularly delivering the narrative’s intents which the weak script can’t carry out, alone.
Anybody who’s into simple-girl-meets–playboy set up won’t take fifteen minutes to fall for this film. The whole form it takes fits almost perfectly to what every hopeless romantic aspires to see from this pair. While it may take a while for some to appreciate the chemistry the two are trying to build, it hits home when the film begins to shed light on its most relatable portions.
There is some irresistible lightness in Molina’s take to present this extremely familiar storyline, whose emotional core digs on the depth of personal sense of responsibility, of family relationships, and moral capacities. The last half of the film is more solid presenting the film’s sentiments and it arrives to a satisfying conclusion.
It’s hard to tell whether Cruz and Mercado have delivered what they exactly intended to present, here. At best, the film is highly entertaining, and may serve as just another reminder of how responsibilities and relationships should be handled. It’s not new, much less groundbreaking for both actors, but it’s entertaining.
RATING: 2.5/4 (JE)
4 – Terrific
3 – Good
2 – Tolerable
1 – Terrible
