The Vow

Today, I plan to make it up for lost time with my best friend. We haven't seen each other for days and I really miss her so much. So I planned to treat her out for a movie and since The Vow is in cinemas.

The film, The Vow, showed up during Valentine's Day in the U.S. and only now was it shown in theaters here in the Philippines. But I did not dare miss it (especially because Channing Tatum is the lead actor). The story tells about how a married couple who suddenly drifted apart because of an accident that cost the woman's memory.

Paige, played by Rachel McAdams, doesn't have any memory of her husband, Leo (Channing Tatum). Her recent memory was being in law school and engaged with her former love, Jeremy. She can't remember being in love or married to her husband.

Realizing this, Leo was determined to retrieve her memory and get their married life back on track. But it wasn't that easy.

I was intrigued with how the characters will get back together. I sent my best friend a message to meet me in the theater. I got there first--just 15 minutes before the first showing comes up. She was on her way. I bought two tickets for us and waited for her. I was a bit hungry so I thought of buying some popcorn and drinks for us. While I was at the counter, I turned my head around the area looking for a sign of my best friend when I suddenly caught a familiar face...a very familiar face: my boyfriend... with another woman. Well, that pretty much settles everything.

I was shaking when I paid at the counter. I wanted to go to him and punch him in the face but he already went inside the theater. So I gave him a message asking if the woman who's with him is his girlfriend. He replied like he was oblivious to the situation. He's a total jerk. When I told him that I was in the theater he finally told the truth...through text messaging. (gawd! he doesn't even have the balls to be honest!) Thank God my best friend arrived and I tried to hide my shaking. My best friend hates him to the core. Now I know why.

The movie was already starting when we went inside and I couldn't internalize the first scenes because of what I had seen. He was texting me trying to apologize (which was pointless and downright bullsh*t) and that he wants to be a better man and that he tried to work things out between us (he was talking nonsense). I said my last goodbye (it was futile to continue with the crap) and told him that he was the biggest mistake that ever happened in my life.

It was ironic experiencing those things while watching a romantic movie. I was more than glad that my best friend was there to support me. She made me laugh and we made silly jokes while watching the movie and I realized how much I missed her. I realized how so much time I had wasted with dating and having relationships with a bunch of A holes. I was more than determined to pick myself up and get on with my life.

I cried a tear or two when the movie ended. Partly because I'm hurt but mostly because I'm relieved. Relieved that I knew about it before it was too late. The movie showed unconditional love and proved that if things are meant to be...they will be. I want to believe that there's someone meant for me too. Maybe not now, but there will be. I deserve a chance to happiness. I'll search for my ever after.

Something Borrowed

I've seen this movie title in my best friend's computer files. I'm a little curious about it since I saw the trailer but I never had the chance to watch it. The movie is a film adaptation of Emily Giffin's novel with the same title and was released last year. Well, just recently I watched this movie after a heated conflict with one of my colleagues, hoping I'd get that "feel good" feeling I get in some romantic movies. So I watched it and turned out I was wrong. Terribly wrong.

The movie seemed complicated on how the characters make it too difficult to be with each other by hiding secrets and telling lies. The story was dragging that I'd really prayed that the movie would end in an hour. I felt awful about Rachel, played by Ginnifer Goodwin. She's a wimp, inferior...someone who can't decide for herself. And she's a lawyer for Christ's sake! How did she become a lawyer in the first place? Don't get me wrong. I don't mean any harm...but aren't lawyers supposed to be fighters? I just don't get it. For several years, she let her best friend, Darcy (Kate Hudson) overcome her. She hid in her best friend's shadows all her life and it took a lot of reality checks before she saw the big picture.

Her former crush and best friend's fiance, Dex (Colin Egglesfield), is a total douche bag. Rachel and Darcy don't deserve a person like him. He's not man enough to have his own decisions. It seems that he's just playing along with the women. I don't even know why (after all what happened...after Rachel finally got to see her flaws and be with her best friend) she still chose to be with the guy. It's terrible. I actually believe that she's better off with Ethan (John Krasinski). Both women deserve someone better.

The characters have hidden affection for each other and the whole scenario seemed to be a big rat race full of regrets, silenced words and unrequited love. Maybe this kind of scenario happens in real life but if it really exists, I don't want to be in any way part of it. It's too complicated, drastic and pathetic. And all for the sake of what they call "love". 

But love doesn't ONLY exist in romantic relationships. It also exists in your relationship with the people around you...your friends. Friends should be seen as your equal and not a competition or whatsoever. If I will be given a choice between my best friend and a former crush, I'd choose my best friend...every time. I'd choose to be straightforward and honest with my best friend. She won't get away with something that will make me truly happy and I would be the same to her. It's a pact of trust and loyalty. Lying to her would eat me up and foreseeing how badly she'll get hurt if I do this/that would totally break my heart. 

I guess love can be Something Borrowed. If you can't pay it, better return it.

Unofficially Yours

No strings attached, no 3rd party, no parental objection, no peer pressure.
So how do you make a conflict out of a seemingly perfect love story?
The story tells about two people who had their hearts broken before.
One, came from an 8-year long relationship but is ready to face the challenges again of a new love.
The other, left by the man she loved for 5 years, has closed her doors and let her fear of loving again grow within her.

My friend and I, watched this movie a few days ago. He could deeply relate with the story and he was almost close to tears when he remembered his loved one. (how I envy him. haha)
 It's a feel good movie. Although I can't fully relate to it, I remembered a lot of my friends in this same scenario. (Not being unofficially someone else's but making sacrifices or letting go of opportunities just to be with their loved one.) And since I can't really relate to it, I can only give you some reasons why you should/should not watch it because I don't want to spoil it all for you.  Here it goes:

Why You Should Watch It
1. You (for men) can find the girl of your dreams in this movie: Beautiful and Hot Angel Locsin. (maybe one of her daring movies?)
2. It tells you not to give up on your dreams and to grab every opportunity. Don't hold back because your loved one says so. Remember: If he/she loves you, they will let you "grow".
3. As what of my friends would say. "Love conquers all, even fear."

Why You Shouldn't Watch It
1. The characters are too good to be true. (I don't mean the looks.) They have no flaws in this movie, especially the male character.
Mackie Galvez is played by John Lloyd Cruz, portrayed as your typical guy-next -door: VERY nice, VERY charming (seems perfect to me).
Angel Locsin is Ces (short for Princess. i don't know what her last name is). She is the PERFECT girlfriend material: beautiful, sexy, independent and career-driven. You can actually wrap her in a box and give to your mommy.

Some would actually compare this movie with Friends With Benefits. Well, they're somewhat alike with the "let's-have-sex-but-we-are-not-committed" part but I think it's more similar with the movie No Strings Attached (gawd. maybe I should make a review about this too. this was released last year). The same concept of believing that two people can have a non-committal-only-sex relationship in the beginning but found themselves falling in love with each other in the end. (When I think about it, they are ALMOST the same)

P.S. I must say the movie poster is the best I've seen in Filipino romantic comedy movies.

*Official movie poster from Star Cinema

What's Your Number

How many guys did you sleep with? 1? 2? 3? Over 20?! People would think that you’re a slut for sleeping with over 20 men; although not at the same time. 

What’s Your Number is a romantic comedy movie starring Anna Faris as Ally who read an article on a magazine that women in America slept with 10.5 men in their lifetime on average. She later found out that the article was based on a Harvard research that tells about the number of guys you sleep with is related to the number of chances you end up getting a decent marriage or worse…not getting married at all. Learning that women who slept with more than 20 men have 96% chances of being unmarried, she started to become frantic and took a little too desperate measure. 

Having 20 men in her life whom she dated and had sex with, Ally is determined to find the man among her exes, hoping they changed over time and one would be decent enough to be her partner in life. But first, she needed to find them so she asked her neighbor Collin (Chris Evans), who was always naked at his doorstep with only a towel to hide his penis, to help her in exchange of letting him use her apartment as a hideout to get away from women whom he slept with. Together, they searched for Ally’s husband-to-be and unexpectedly finding true love at arm’s length. 

Although I’ve read a lot of negative comments about the movie, it didn’t stop me from watching it. (No one can stop me from watching Chris Evans' body. haha!) Some would say that I’ll be wasting my money and time if I watch it. I say, it’s worth it. Yes, there are some things that made people think it’s crappy. But looking through the whole movie in a different light than most critics, made me realize a lot of good things about it. 

It’s a fun-watch movie with friends and Anna Faris won’t fail to make you laugh. There are scenes that would make you feel sad though and will help you realize some matters about relationships. The movie isn’t plainly about falling in love. It’s also about moving on and letting go of your pasts, being yourself and accepting one’s flaws. So if anybody asks you what’s your number? Don’t fret. It’s just a number.