I must admit I’m a sucker for Pinoy rom-coms. Call me a hopeless romantic, coz I think I’ve watched almost all of them –even the super dumb ones that bring your IQ down to popcorn level.
But I do appreciate how rom coms, in the past couple of years, Tadhana, Kita Kita, Meet Me at St. Gallen have elevated and gave new life to such a tired genre. It also proved that you don’t have to cast John Lloyd + Bea Alonzo or Sarah Geronimo or (insert famous leading lady) to make a movie a hit.
Last Tuesday I got to interview Valeen Montenegro again, and unlike the first time I met her (way back in 2013), when she still sported a boys haircut, she looked every inch like the girl of every boy’s dream—and its easy to develop an instant crush on her.
She was promoting her movie “The Write Moment,” which initially had a limited theatrical run last year during the QCinema festival. But since they re-released the trailer in time for its commercial release this June 27, 2018, it has been creating quite a buzz based on the number of views and comments. And IdeaFirst and Viva Films may just have another sleeper hit on their hands.
“What do you do when the love of your life, the woman you dream of growing old with, suddenly breaks up with you for the most cliché reason of simply growing tired of your relationship?”
For wedding videographer and occasional movie script writer Dave, he writes a screenplay depicting their happy ending and surprisingly finds himself living out his written story with a mysterious twist.
Such is the premise of the film The Write Moment, which opens in cinemas nationwide on June 27. Produced by The IdeaFirst Company and Viva Films with CMB Films.
The Write Moment is top-billed by Jerald Napoles as Dave and Valeen Montenegro as his lady love, Joyce. The duo which puts a twist to the beauty and the ordinary mechanic has been compared to the “AlEmpoy” tandem of Alessandra and Empoy of KitaKita.
Valeen said it’s an honor to be compared to the hit couple, and says working with Jerald on Sunday Pinasaya, has made them more comfortable in the scenes which would otherwise be awkward had it been their first time together.
Both Valeen and Jerald said they have no expectations, but Jerald admits they do feel a bit of pressure since Sid and Aya the movie they preceded did well in the box-office.
“Actually, kinakabahan, mixed emotions. Kinakabahan, excited, at tutok. Kasi sa online ko lang nakikita ang reactions ng tao. “Noong in-announce na may commercial run, nakita ko ang reviews and comments… Ang daming pelikula ngayon, ang daming romantic comedy, medyo competitive din. Kung mayroon kang 300 comments doon at kung ‘yung 237 doon ay manonood sila at may naka-tag na pangalan, eh may mag-ii-spread ng news. ‘Yun lang ‘yung importante.”
But Valeen adds just getting the lead roles was a big thing for them. “Ang tagal bago nagsink-in na bida na pala kami sa pelikula adding that said she is looking forward to sharing their film with a larger audience.
“Siyempre our goal was we really wanted a lot of people to see the film kasi sobrang proud kami rito. Maganda ang storytelling,” she said.
“Nae-excite ako kasi parang feeling ko maraming makaka-relate in all other levels.”
Unlikely as their pair may be, this ordinary guy-beautiful girl team-up has proven to be an effective combination in presenting the poignant yet hilarious scenes of a fantasy love story gone wrong.
Anyone who has suffered a heartbreak, or even those who have a penchant for stories of the lovelorn who still fight for love, will surely relate to the film’s unorthodox “hugot lines” and laugh at the cheeky humor of this fantasy romantic comedy.
Directed by Dominic Lim, The Write Moment was an original entry to last year’s QCinema International Film Festival and it received good reviews on how the movie’s surreal moments took viewers to a “wildly entertaining trip to the dark side of love.” The story itself is an existential journey depicting the realities of life and love, which is perfectly played out by Jerald and Valeen with their own individual flairs and eccentricities.
The Write Moment opens in cinemas this June 27. For more information about the movie, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thewritemomentfilm.
