Review on Movie ‘The Hows of Us’

Off from my stressful graveyard shifts at work, I decided I was going to give in without a fight to my office mate’s (and friend) request of going to the cinema with her. It was awesome Thursday payday so what will I lose? I thought this was a win-win situation–I get to watch a movie in a real cinema and I get to do something not usually part of my boring routines off work–even if it is my first local film in my twenty-ish years of existence. Great time to experience another first, right?

I normally don’t watch local Filipino films because I know I can watch them in the local TV in two or three months later, but I guess there are always things that you don’t expect too much from that gives you better surprises, right?

‘The Hows of Us’ delivers this surprisingly astounding performance that drives a hammer to the heart and at the same time stitches back the pieces with endearing slapstick and cute moments.

The story

‘The Hows of Us‘ tells the story of a young couple, George (Kathryn Bernardo) and Primo (Daniel Padilla), whose sweet love story turns sour as they struggle to survive in their so-called relationship and the throws of life in their direction, until fire burns their love to ashes and each of them are thrown in a life without each other.

George is aspiring to be a doctor and Primo is very passionate about his music and getting his band the break that they have been waiting for. Living together in the ancestral house that they inherited from their ‘Tita Lola‘ (Susan Africa) seems to be a dream come true for the blossoming couple during their beginning years together, but what seems to be a beautiful love story written to be everlasting starts to crumble as Primo’s passion as a musician becomes so problematic to the point he can’t do anything else but music.

Primo is hell bent on proving that all his hard work on their band and his music will labor fruit even if its already seven years later and yet it seems as if he’s on ground zero when it comes to his passion. Nothing just seems to work out for him. One of his members decides to leave the band because passion alone cannot bring formula milk for his famished child. He can’t find the perfect replacement for them because others are just not good enough. He starts to drink his problems away until he’s completely wasted that this holds back George from taking her one shot at starting her dream at being in medical school out of extreme worry for him.

What’s even worse? They can’t pay the bills anymore, the lights are turned off, and there’s no water running from the tap because for the life of George who is forced to be the breadwinner of their ancestral home, her salary can’t be enough to pay for everything and Primo isn’t so much a help by being so stuck at one chapter of his life that he just doesn’t want to do anything but thrash the house and do things half-heartedly like a lazy ass.

On their last night together, George has enough of Primo. He is no longer the same man that George used to admire. She used to believe that he is a great man, but what had this slump in his career did to him? She doesn’t know anymore. Primo is so proud that he’ll definitely make it someday with his passion for music, but where’s that proud man? He just looks shamelessly lame and George has let him hold her back from her dreams for seven years because she thought staying with him is the best route. But what now? George asks him to leave her alone that night out of anger and Primo doesn’t return until two years later.

Fast forward, Pri  mo comes back from Italy a renewed man in hopes of getting his woman back. George, however, is determined to not let Primo interfere in her life again.

But then they are thrown in a situation wherein they have to unavoidably live together under one roof, with only a line marking their own halves of the house separating them.

Review:

There’s just something so real and raw about this movie that I am easily attracted to the story and the emotions that they have extracted from Kathryn and Daniel while portraying their roles.

The real life couple has always succeeded in giving their fans something to gush about, but nothing too intense that I’d be moved to tears or feel like I can share the same feelings with them. It’s just too hard to connect myself with them or with their previous films before because it’s either the movie is always half-assed, too happily-ever-after-focused, or too plot driven.

Yes, I watched all those KathNiel projects, but the point of all those movies and dramas all boiled down to nothing but fan service, the fact that then and now anything that Kathryn and Daniel does will sell out because of their huge fanbase, and a lot of disappointment because the hype always dies down in the middle of all those stories despite showing great potential from the beginning.

But now–lo and behold–I saw a much mature performance from these two actors, which extremely surprised me and made me think they are finally becoming real actors. I think Kathryn especially owned this film after showcasing such true and raw emotions whenever there are those bawling scenes with Daniel that was either because of happiness, anger or grief. And Daniel somehow became less of the typical cool and proud character he has portrayed in the past and he showed that he can also shine in his quiet, turned well-mannered character who isn’t argumentative or proud. Gone was the bad boy image and we see a guy who learned how to compromise and become more flexible in life as Primo. He truly allowed Kathryn to shine as the devoted lover, George, who is also a dedicated family member.

On the other hand, Director Cathy Molina’s effort in attempting a jump out of the box of typical cliches is a semi-feat as she is able to deliver a story that is, yes, something that must have been the usual trope in every other Filipino films, yet that is very relatable, realistic at some parts, intelligent especially in dialogues they throw at each other, overflowing with quotable quotes that may be too poetic, but inspiring and successful in making slapstick moments cute to the point I can gush about it.

This movie is not truly perfect, but I think it’s a work in progress for our local film industry.

There are gaping plot holes that doesn’t have much logical explanation (ex. when the gang was looking for George and Yohan’s father, how is it possible for Dar (Kit Thompson) to search so easily for a person in one day in the foreign land of Amsterdam when George and her family spent almost all their life looking for him? Besides, I seriously don’t get that just because Yohan is soon going to be blind because of a severe effect of diabetes that he decides–without any resentment–he wants to see his father who left them?).

And there are those unending heavy scenes under the rain the seems pretty overused  and could have been better (I must have watched so many K-dramas to get so tired of this).

Or those bad decisions that could have been better decided on by the main characters (ex. when George was about to take the NMAT exam the same day that Primo decided he has to get wasted. George could have taken her NMAT exam and asked someone to look after Primo. Or if she can’t really leave him alone, then she could have taken the NMAT exam again a year later but then she decides to take it again in two years? Like why? Even if you’re working as a real estate agent, I still think squeezing some studying to your schedule and one day of exams wouldn’t stop you from getting your salary). I hate to say this, but often times, Filipino characters are dumb. Or is it just these character’s naivete? Could I have decided like them if I was in their shoes? I possibly would, but who knows if I make a better decision in real life?

There’s also lackluster acting in here. I must admit that I am a little disappointed with Darren Espanto’s portayal of Yohan. I do know that it’s his first acting gig, but he’s just too stiff and too unnatural. His character could have been adorable as Kathryn’s little brother, but he just looks awkward for that role and his reactions are still half-baked. I’m not losing hope though that’s he’s going to improve one day.

There are these shortcomings that I’ve noticed and maybe there are more I forgot to mention, but these things are easy to overlook when you turn your focus on the main plot of the story: how two souls will mend what had been broken between them in the most humble way.

The portrayal of George and Primo’s love has not been grand. In fact, the turn of events in their love story were unflattering. There’s nothing to be proud of when you’re boyfriend is broke but still can’t swallow his pride because he is too inflexible to do something else aside from his music. There’s nothing to be proud of that George is devoted to a person who kept proving to her and to other people that he’s just a no good. It’s hard that they’ve reached the ultimate slump in their relationship and they have to realize that it’s no longer healthy to stay in that relationship. Most definitely, it is silly and true for us humans, that we only find ourselves and make time to right our wrongs when we’ve lost the most important thing in our lives.

But it is extremely admiring that George managed to pick up herself and she became tougher and that she can do anything for her family. Finally she has something to fight for other than Primo. She’s no longer prison to the enclosed world that she stayed in for seven years while unwittingly loving an undeserving man. And it’s very brave of Primo to admit to his faults and learn how to compromise his passion for a better cause. He learnt the hard way that music isn’t everything, but music can always be his dream. He can also do other things above his passion, and that is love. Love for his family and love for George that he is willing to do anything to win her back.

I guess, that’s the kind of love that is almost extinct, but absolutely remarkable. And it’s nice every once in a while that a movie like this can stay positive and give hope that love hasn’t abandoned us. It stays in different forms. And this makes this story a breath of fresh air away from the annoying cliches from films.

Rating:

Giving this great film a 4.5 out of 5. I just have a lot to gush about this film. That’s saying something as it is my first time for a local film.