This film is a Filipino romance that has everything but romance anywhere but the Philippines. See how that works? No, I don’t either. And this film is about a cute on-again, off-again, on-again couple, who become less cute as the film evolves. I’ve used this Larry Miller quote before, but it couldn’t be more appropriate than here and now:
“This milk is sour (ugh)” … (puts it back in the fridge) … “maybe tomorrow it will be fresh.”
Turns out I used it earlier this year to describe the Indian romance Do Aur Do Pyaar. I’d have to go on an extended sabbatical to decide which film is more appropriate for Larry Miller’s take on repairing bad break-ups.
As I’m not prepared to take time off atm, I’ll have to discuss what we got here and now: Joy Marie Fabregas (Kathryn Bernardo) and Ethan del Rosario (Alden Richards) are Filipinos living in Hong Kong. Well, that describes the first thirty seconds, at least. Joy is moving to Canada to get her life going. Ethan isn’t. For now, they are an adorable romantic couple, even long distance. Their love language is making ironic negative pronouncements. Ethan will say something like, “I definitely don’t love you” to which Joy’s proper response is: “I don’t love you, too.” They seemed to have good energy for a couple on opposite sides of the world; maybe they will make it.
Oh, oh, uh oh. Now approaches the winter of 2020. At first we see Ethan adapting. He visits. March happens. Canada goes on lockdown. Well, what do you two care? After all, you’re in love.
Next scene takes place in 2024. Joy is now “Marie,” and she’s come to pick up her new beau, Uno (Kevin Kreider) at the airport. Is Uno now her one and only? It just so happens that in the very moment, Ethan and his pals are also at the airport, moving from Hong Kon
g to live in Calgary full-time. And they all meet at the airport where Marie couldn’t be colder to Ethan if she had personally sunk the Titanic.
This film gets a ton of mileage out of the metaphorical use of “Joy.” i.e. “Joy is no longer here” “I have no Joy” Awwwww, that’s so sad and sweet and lazy. The film asks us to hang in there with Ethan and Joy even after showing us the break-up, which is ugly. These two are ideal for a cutesy relationship, but not terribly great at a serious one. What happens when children come into their lives?
While the film is cute, Hello, Love, Again is adorable. But it doesn’t last, and it’s hard to see this couple staying together in the long run. I give it 1.5 sequels max.
Two Filipinos, Ethan and Joy
A woman in love with a boy
COVID took a toll
And he took a stroll
Now he wants another chance to destroy
Not Rated, 122 Minutes
Director: Cathy Garcia-Sampana
Writer: Carmi Raymundo, Crystal S. San Miguel, Olivia M. Lamasan
Genre: Forever romance
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Suckers for romance and soulmates and all that crap
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: “If they were so right for each other, why did they break up?”
