Review of How to Be Yours (2016) by Kissesjoy S — 29 Jul 2016

One of Dan Villegas' best works; he is indeed making his own mark in romantic dramas. What I loved the most about this movie is its pacing. At first, I thought it was going a bit too slow that it gave me time to wonder where the story was headed.

However, it ended up perfect for the story, so perfect for the effect it wanted to achieve. Anj (Bea Alonzo) and Nino (Gerald Anderson) are an unlikely yet perfect pair. They were two very different people when the story began and the character development all throughout the film just felt very real and natural.

In classic Villegas style, he was able to tell a very simple story in an enticing manner. I have to admit that I have a penchant for melodrama, but this has none of the explosive emotions and yet I still loved it! There were also a lot of visually beautiful shots, especially the chandeliers scene and the last scene at the bar.

Of course, the theme song, Ambon, has been one of my favourites from Himig Handog, so it's a plus that they used it for this movie. I also have to be honest and say that I'm not a fan of the two main actors, but I appreciate that they both delivered in this film.

At times, it just felt that they lacked the natural chemistry but at the end, nonetheless, they were both able to tell a love story that felt real and beautiful.