Now I know how it feels like to be immersed in a movie with the main protagonist crying 90-plus percent of the time! KC Concepcion is not a bad actress. But Star Cinema’s I’ll Be There (directed by Maryo J. de los Reyes) subjected KC’s ever-ready tear glands to arduous toil which felt much like Egyptian slavery that made me want to Exodus from the cinema at certain, specific points in the film.

Such points were those in which KC would cry AGAIN.

If Kill Bill splurged on bloodbath, I’ll Be There shows us the meaning of tearbath just so it would be a “successful” drama. This type of approach should be forsaken at all costs. It’s a lazy way of saying, I’m a drama movie so cry with me. Worse, these iyakan moments always gets served with the I’ll Be There theme song. What’s this, a 2-hour Jed Madela music video (without Jed Madela appearing anywhere in it)?

Thank goodness the film has memorable lighthearted scenes (and they’re more memorable than the iyakans) to counterattack the unjust tearbath that unmakes this movie.

Most likeable is the story which situates its characters in a plot that would challenge them to discover the meaning and beauty of forgiveness especially when given to those who don’t seem to deserve it.

I just love how the movie is loaded with the message of grace. Maxi (KC) is an ambitious fashion designer who grew up in New York and treads its feverishly competitive career path. Swindled and in need of cold cash, she’s forced to go back to the Philippines to claim her inheritance from her mother which her 15-year-absent dad (Gabby Concepcion) is in charge of. The trip makes Maxi go back to her roots, reconnect with her dad and finally unburden herself of anger.

This gemstone of a message is the film’s strongest point. Ambition vs. Family is Maxi’s dilemma. Little does she know that her outrageous ambition hunting would lead her to something she never dreamed of but really wanted: forgiving and loving her dad again.

Only pretty faces like these could produce a pretty-face like KC

Gabby and KC’s real-life father-daughter relationship is a favorite Philippine showbiz dish that never spoils even if it already spans more than two decades. Much of the film’s publicity is hinged on this. So it just makes me wonder why their first scene together doesn’t come with a well-deserved build-up and excitement. Not that KC has to be under attack by King Kong and Gabby in spandex is off to rescue her, but something more tense than meeting in a boring cafe, please! This is my only Gabby-KC scene-related complaint, though. They’re two fine actors fun to watch the rest of the movie.

Jericho and KC

And am I so relieved that the story doesn’t focus on Tommy (Jericho Rosales) and Maxi’s love affair. Honestly, hindi ako kinikilig sa mga ganyan. Pero ‘yung mga tao sa sinehan narinig kong kinilig sila with matching tili na falsetto. So I guess nakakakilig ‘yung scenes nina Jericho and KC. In my opinion though, the love affair would be premature if it were to happen in real life. They only knew each other for less than a week and they already kissed! Imelda Papin’s wisdom dictates that relationships based on one-week infatuations are doomed to fail. So thank you, Star Cinema for not overkilling the romance here like you would usually do, 90-plus percent of the time.

Don’t buy pirated! Saw this myself with Patrick

Jade

Jade is naturally horrified by Mathematics in the same degree that activities which require stamina, agility and athleticism ruins his day. But far from being a couch potato, he bought a brand new Ab Rocket (for an amazingly discounted price) which he plans to use while watching TV and DVDs—activities with which, for him, either society’s moral ascent or descent can be pretty much discerned. He co-hosts a web-radio show on The Edge, and recently went back to school studying Film.

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