Chika Review Sessions: Can't Help Falling In Love

We're doing something new! A podcast!!!

I was inspired to do this by the movie Star Cinema's "Can't Help Falling In Love," starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. I've invited my sister and favorite media review partner, AC, to discuss the movie with me.

We reviewed the movie based on plot, cast, story and cinematography.

We both agree: this is a kilig movie, a true fan service. We like it, but there are important points that we think we can improve.

Click below to hear our review of "Can't Help Falling In Love."

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. Keep away if you don't want anything spoiled for you. Spoilers are in both the podcast and the text below. Last warning! Okay, here we go.


PLOT: 3/5 STARS 

Typical story, opened some serious themes but didn't continue those conversations in the movie.

AC: Not a fan--super--of the plot.

Your City Promdi: This is very typical. Lahat yata ng mga cliche sa pelikulang Pilipino ay ginamit niya maliban sa amnesia.

AC: May mga bagay sa movie na medyo kontrobersyal. Kung sa ibang bansa 'yan, i-o-all-out [ang discussion ng themes na ito], pero dahil Pilipino [ang gumawa] at ito ang mga artistang ito, pa-safe pa rin 'yung atake nito. (Spoiler alert: it's about transexuals.)

Your City Promdi: Isang malaking point dito [ang tema ng transexuals] pero hindi siya na-explore ng mabuti dito. Dinaanan lang siya. We're scared to push that boundary. Also hindi rin nagkaroon ng tamang pagdi-discuss ng tungkol sa divorce and annulment.

AC: Nabuksan siya na na issue pero hindi siya nasarhan.

AC: (Shout-out to Jewel, the friend from Dubai who watched the movie three times on opening day!) There is some tinge of cheating sa story. Ako, personally, hindi ko siya gusto. Pero had it been sa ibang movie, in-all-out 'yun pero ito hindi pero ang safe-safe ng pag-tread doon. That part, very realistic. Pero ang sakit, masakit siyang part ng story. Medyo nakaka-less in love with it, just because at the back of your head, you know it's not right.

Your City Promdi: The disappointment also is ang dami ng themes na puwede sanang pinag-usapan pero hindi nahukay and other films had already done these better. Nasayang ang opportunities na 'yan, na sana may baging nadagdag sa conversations about these themes: cheating, divorce or annulment, transexuals or transgenders, and actually gay relationships also, questions on life and death, individuality, and maintaining your identity in a relationship. Nakulangan ako. Sayang!

AC: Lahat sila nandoon, pero while the story progresses, lahat sila naiiwan.

Your City Promdi: Lahat sila naging device lang para kiligin tayo kay Kathniel. Which is sad, kasi puwede sana nating nagawa 'yun na kinikilig pa rin tayo. And this has happened before sa mga movies nila na kinikilig tayo pero may bagong nadagdag sa usapan.

CAST: 3.5/5 STARS 


We're disappointed at how Matteo Guidicelli's character was written. We like Joross Gamboa's character (watch it to understand why!) and Kristine Fulgar's effective little scene. We love Kathryn's acting chops!  

Your City Promdi: Sino ang paborito mong cast?

AC: Tinatanong pa ba?! Hello, Kathniel *kilig*

AC: This is very Kathniel-centric, pero ang tumatak sa akin na scene ay 'yung kaibigan ni Kathryn--si Kristel Fulgar. Sa lahat siya ang pareho kami ng thinking, na parang, "Gurl! 'Wag tayong naive." Ang talino ni ate!

Your City Promdi: Yes, hindi siya 'yung ra-ra-ra lang na bestfriend, so para sa akin, hindi siya one dimensional. Plus natuwa ako sa pag-arte niya ni Kristel.

AC: Natural.

Your City Promdi: Ramdam mo siya, na parang if my friend had been talking to me about the same thing, I think this is how it will happen in real life. Ang galing-galing niya doon.

Your City Promdi: Nakakapanghinayang. Ang laki-laki sana niyang exploration, sana ginamit siya ng mas maganda.  Para siyang papel na boyfriend na ginamit dito bilang third party para magkaroon ng dahilan para maghiwalay si Kathniel. Nakakapanghinayang kasi this is a guy who knows what he wants and nagka-clash 'yun sa development ng character ni Kath.

Your City Promdi: Kudos to Kathryn! Ang galing-galing niya talaga. Hindi niya na kailangan magsabi ng anything. Just look at her eyes. And even for such an average film, nai-elevate niya ang mga eksena niya.

AC: That's very true. I've read a review about "Crazy Beautiful You" and then I remember there was this particular line saying na, "She did well despite the limited material. She was able to bring so much more despite the limited material written of her character." And then I read another review now for "Can't Help Falling In Love" na parang, "She has this way of bringing a weird depth." Wala

Your City Promdi: Exactly!

AC: Wala namang kakaiba, pero pasok na pasok si ate doon sa character.

Your City Promdi: Parang ginagawa niyang three-dimensional 'yung mga in truth ay two-dimensional characters lang. And I guess this says a lot about her talent.

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