*Minor Spoilers Ahead*
Angelica Panganiban and Bea Alonzo team up for the latest Mae Cruz film, “Unbreakable” as best friends Deena and Mariel. Brought together by pure coincidence, the film tackles the pair’s enduring love for each other as they go through various trials and tribulations - separately or together.
“Unbreakable” also stars Richard Gutierrez as Justin, Ian Veneracion as Bene and Gloria Diaz as the men’s toxic mother. Story is written by Vanessa Valdez.
Oftentimes local cinemas rely on star power for box office performance as if story becomes an afterthought. However, the movie-loving public will be thrilled to know that despite starring some of the most popular actors of today, “Unbreakable” delivers on all fronts. The movie’s story which spans several years effectively tells the tale of a different kind of love between best friends Deena and Mariel. Brought together by an unfortunate, albeit hilarious incident during their college years, the two delevelops an enduring relationship that stands that test of time.
Unsurprisingly, Panganiban and Alonzo brought their A-game in “Unbreakable.” Both actors brilliantly portray Deena and Mariel as they went through their separate journeys. Panganiban’s versatility shines through, and Alonzo’s comedic timing throughout the film is impressive considering that she leans more on dramatic roles. While the supporting cast was mostly effective, Diaz’s portrayal of the matapobre elite is a standout.
“Unbreakable’s” strength, however, lies primarily in its story. It’s a well-crafted all-around film that’s both familiar and yet refreshing. It’s essentially a melding of various smaller narratives which all boils down to Deena and Mariel’s enduring friendship. Each subplot served a purpose, without a stitch of useless useless set-up. The film runs a bit longer compared to most local offerings, clocking at almost two hours, but each scene effectively sets up its emotional ending. And while there’s the now-mandatory product placement, “Unbreakable” did it the best way possible - subtle and organic.
“Unbreakable” is a reminder that the local cinema industry is still able to produce blockbusters outside of the usual romantic flare that are well thought of and meaningful. The film has both heart and humor, making it one of the most well-rounded enjoyable films of the year. It brings us back to the very core of good movies which is the story - no gimmicks whatsoever. The ending is quite predictable, however, the way things unfolded leading to it was so captivating, getting people so invested in both Deena and Mariel’s characters. If anything, it would’ve been a great Metro Manila Film Festival contender as it would’ve brought something new to the table with regard to the typical roster of offerings put out every year.
RATING: 9.5 out of 10
Watch full trailer here:
— ALD, The Summit Express
Angelica Panganiban and Bea Alonzo team up for the latest Mae Cruz film, “Unbreakable” as best friends Deena and Mariel. Brought together by pure coincidence, the film tackles the pair’s enduring love for each other as they go through various trials and tribulations - separately or together.
 |
| Angelica Panganiban as Deena and Bea Alonzo as Mariel in ‘Unbreakable’/Star Cinema |
“Unbreakable” also stars Richard Gutierrez as Justin, Ian Veneracion as Bene and Gloria Diaz as the men’s toxic mother. Story is written by Vanessa Valdez.
 |
| Angelica Panganiban as Deena, Bea Alonzo as Mariel and Richard Gutierrez as Justin in ‘Unbreakable’/Star Cinema |
Oftentimes local cinemas rely on star power for box office performance as if story becomes an afterthought. However, the movie-loving public will be thrilled to know that despite starring some of the most popular actors of today, “Unbreakable” delivers on all fronts. The movie’s story which spans several years effectively tells the tale of a different kind of love between best friends Deena and Mariel. Brought together by an unfortunate, albeit hilarious incident during their college years, the two delevelops an enduring relationship that stands that test of time.
Unsurprisingly, Panganiban and Alonzo brought their A-game in “Unbreakable.” Both actors brilliantly portray Deena and Mariel as they went through their separate journeys. Panganiban’s versatility shines through, and Alonzo’s comedic timing throughout the film is impressive considering that she leans more on dramatic roles. While the supporting cast was mostly effective, Diaz’s portrayal of the matapobre elite is a standout.
“Unbreakable’s” strength, however, lies primarily in its story. It’s a well-crafted all-around film that’s both familiar and yet refreshing. It’s essentially a melding of various smaller narratives which all boils down to Deena and Mariel’s enduring friendship. Each subplot served a purpose, without a stitch of useless useless set-up. The film runs a bit longer compared to most local offerings, clocking at almost two hours, but each scene effectively sets up its emotional ending. And while there’s the now-mandatory product placement, “Unbreakable” did it the best way possible - subtle and organic.
 |
| Angelica Panganiban as Deena and Bea Alonzo as Mariel in ‘Unbreakable’/Star Cinema |
“Unbreakable” is a reminder that the local cinema industry is still able to produce blockbusters outside of the usual romantic flare that are well thought of and meaningful. The film has both heart and humor, making it one of the most well-rounded enjoyable films of the year. It brings us back to the very core of good movies which is the story - no gimmicks whatsoever. The ending is quite predictable, however, the way things unfolded leading to it was so captivating, getting people so invested in both Deena and Mariel’s characters. If anything, it would’ve been a great Metro Manila Film Festival contender as it would’ve brought something new to the table with regard to the typical roster of offerings put out every year.
RATING: 9.5 out of 10
Watch full trailer here:
— ALD, The Summit Express
