Folks, we find ourselves once again confronted with a local drama with a very general title: No Other Woman. Should we watch or just move along?
No Other Woman is about Ram (Derek Ramsay), a struggling businessman out to prove that he's better than his father, who left him when he was still a child. Married to the supportive Cha (Cristine Reyes), he finally gets a break when a resort gets interested in sourcing furniture from him. However, complications arise when he becomes attracted to Cara (Anne Curtis), the carefree daughter of the resort's owner.
Although I took a jab at the film title earlier, it actually helps us identify right away that the movie is about a love triangle. More than the love triangle concept, it tackles the issue of adultery. If there's one thing that Filipino cinema is good at, it is knowing that the target audience loves drama. The plot is somehow predictable but many people will be able to relate to this movie, which will translate to box office success. The film does not sensationalize the consequence of starting an affair but shows how it will always lead to betrayals and heartaches. The relationship between Ram and his father was mentioned frequently during the movie but oddly enough, I feel it wasn't given resolution.
One feature that is hard to miss out in No Other Woman is the dialogue. The character conversations make you listen and cringe at the same time. For example, the emotion of the story is fully conveyed in the words they say to each other, and it would be impossible for someone not to understand what is going on if she just listens. However, there are some questionable items that the scriptwriters should take note of. There is a scene where Ram and Cha are in the balcony; Ram is being dramatic about how his father-in-law is never satisfied about what he does and suddenly the word "bayag" flies into the air like it's the most logical thing to say. Almost every sentence involves a simile or a metaphor, and although some are really effective, others seem forced. From using seafood to picking the right type of bed, this movie takes the cake in saying something else than what is actually meant.
Seeing the trio in action with their ripped bodies and perfect faces kind of reminds me of an FHM shoot. However, it would not only be mean to say that No Other Woman is just a venue to show how hot these stars are but also untruthful. There is actually meat to their performance, and although their acting will not win them any awards, it can elicit enough sympathy from the viewers. Cristine Reyes is my favorite lead in this film. I think she is able to pull off the simple housewife attitude plus her transformation into a devious little bitch. For some reason, I did find myself sniggering at her dramatic monologue near the end of the movie, but hey, maybe that is just me. Anne Curtis, on the other hand, has really grown as an actress. I can hardly believe she started out in GMA's teen show T.G.I.S where she couldn't even speak straight Filipino and had shaky acting ability. Special mention should be given to Carmi Martin, who plays Cha's mother. She is the comic relief, and she does well in easing the tension with her hilarious lines and expressions.
So, after all that explanation, should you watch "No Other Woman?" Well, if you're looking for Grade A material, try another movie. If you're looking for heavy drama and you are a fan of these actors, then by all means, watch it. You won't be disappointed.
No Other Woman is about Ram (Derek Ramsay), a struggling businessman out to prove that he's better than his father, who left him when he was still a child. Married to the supportive Cha (Cristine Reyes), he finally gets a break when a resort gets interested in sourcing furniture from him. However, complications arise when he becomes attracted to Cara (Anne Curtis), the carefree daughter of the resort's owner.
Although I took a jab at the film title earlier, it actually helps us identify right away that the movie is about a love triangle. More than the love triangle concept, it tackles the issue of adultery. If there's one thing that Filipino cinema is good at, it is knowing that the target audience loves drama. The plot is somehow predictable but many people will be able to relate to this movie, which will translate to box office success. The film does not sensationalize the consequence of starting an affair but shows how it will always lead to betrayals and heartaches. The relationship between Ram and his father was mentioned frequently during the movie but oddly enough, I feel it wasn't given resolution.
One feature that is hard to miss out in No Other Woman is the dialogue. The character conversations make you listen and cringe at the same time. For example, the emotion of the story is fully conveyed in the words they say to each other, and it would be impossible for someone not to understand what is going on if she just listens. However, there are some questionable items that the scriptwriters should take note of. There is a scene where Ram and Cha are in the balcony; Ram is being dramatic about how his father-in-law is never satisfied about what he does and suddenly the word "bayag" flies into the air like it's the most logical thing to say. Almost every sentence involves a simile or a metaphor, and although some are really effective, others seem forced. From using seafood to picking the right type of bed, this movie takes the cake in saying something else than what is actually meant.
Seeing the trio in action with their ripped bodies and perfect faces kind of reminds me of an FHM shoot. However, it would not only be mean to say that No Other Woman is just a venue to show how hot these stars are but also untruthful. There is actually meat to their performance, and although their acting will not win them any awards, it can elicit enough sympathy from the viewers. Cristine Reyes is my favorite lead in this film. I think she is able to pull off the simple housewife attitude plus her transformation into a devious little bitch. For some reason, I did find myself sniggering at her dramatic monologue near the end of the movie, but hey, maybe that is just me. Anne Curtis, on the other hand, has really grown as an actress. I can hardly believe she started out in GMA's teen show T.G.I.S where she couldn't even speak straight Filipino and had shaky acting ability. Special mention should be given to Carmi Martin, who plays Cha's mother. She is the comic relief, and she does well in easing the tension with her hilarious lines and expressions.
So, after all that explanation, should you watch "No Other Woman?" Well, if you're looking for Grade A material, try another movie. If you're looking for heavy drama and you are a fan of these actors, then by all means, watch it. You won't be disappointed.