‘The Hopeful Romantic’: A Deceptively Humorous Flick!
The Topel Lee film titled ‘The Hopeful Romantic’ is a story rooted in its two characters, who created lies for themselves in order to prevent from being away from each other. Despite the fact this screenplay did not employ two bankable stars-it still has great promise of entertaining its audience. It is now showing in cinemas nationwide starting today, September 12.
Herrera, Lee and Azul in a pose taken from Regal Entertainment Incorporated's photo shoot for publicity efforts.
After the huge success of ‘Kita Kita’ last year, comes a different kind of love story that may attract all sexes to watch the Pepe Herrera-Ritz Azul film. It banks on the concept of how people perceive a perfect pair is supposed to be, which Herrera and Azul’s characters are not.
Herrera is Jesus Prominente. Photograph courtesy of Regal Entertainment Incorporated.
In the movie, Jesus Prominente, a 33-year-old virgin is portrayed by Pepe; while the apple-of-his-eyes-the sexy gold-digger named Veronica is played by Ritz.
Azul took three other names; apart from Veronica, there was Ashley, Nikki and Amanda. Photograph courtesy of Regal Entertainment Incorporated.
Jesus is the only son of his parents. He promised his parents that he would only give up his virginity to his one-true-love, to whom he thought he already found in the person of Veronica. Even amid his four-day privileged lifestyle-acting as a filthy rich, single guy and was allowed to live for four days in the most expensive suite in the hotel where he is a valet chauffer; he figured a more complicated situation when he fell in love with the beauteous and mysterious Veronica.
Little did they know, both of them are just putting up a good show; Jesus as a cardiologist and Veronica as a damsel-in-distress socialite (but a gold-digging woman) and who also thought that the former is already a ‘good catch’ for her to fulfill her long-time dream of getting out of the pit she’s in.
Herrera who made a name via PETA’s original Filipino rock musical ‘Rak of Aegis’ as Tolits did well in his first lead role opposite a mainstream female star. There were times that the supposedly funny scenes have ended as ‘unnaturally humorous’; but can be still be forgiven. Casting Beverly Salviejo as the mother of Jesus and Bodjie Pascua as the father was a great move. Both managed to make the intended funny scenes really funny.
As a whole, it worked in most of its humorous scenes; but it could have resorted to more a ‘hopeful’ ending. Perhaps the biggest lesson for people who find themselves in a similar scenario that of Jesus and Veronica (who had several aliases including her real character name-Ashley, Nikki and Amanda) is not healthy enough because they need to pretend for being someone who they are not. The his film speaks strongly about being honest in every aspect to be able to sustain a more lasting relationship.