After tackling problems that haunt senior citizens within decades after their marriage in "I Wanna Be Happy," writer-director Jose Javier Reyes teams up this time with Star Cinema for "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo," a Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry with a more glamorous look on issues revolving around marriage. This time, it's about a young couple who have to deal with all the hustle and bustle, all the ups and downs that accompany a newlywed life. What ensues is an amusing if a tad spotty film that mixes a little bit of "War of the Roses," "Meet the Parents/Fockers," "Monster-in-Law," and a generous amount of Filipino flavor and sarcasm on the contemporary local culture, Joey Reyes-style.
Real-life pair Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo play Angie and Jed, respectively, who tied the knot with each other in a whimsical manner. After being pressured to migrate to the US by his parents, Jed proposes to Angie, his girlfriend of four months, possibly to ensure a reason of staying here in the Philippines. But their relationship soon rears its ugly head as the young couple realize that not all marriages are made in heaven. Fights occur, in-laws meddle with personal affairs, and marital infidelity starts to loom around.
The film pretty much accomplishes what it has to do, succinctly showing the context of a married life and how quirky our culture can seem when we're outside looking in. It's funny when it's in its element although it gets a tad too long with Reyes eager to showcase all the possible angles that leaves the film with more cynicism than innocence. The film has a breezy feel throughout but there are times the biting bitterness of certain plot points gets the better of the supposed lightheartedness of the work as a whole.
Still, this is a film blessed with a terrific cast. While Agoncillo's acting is monotonous, he's more than ably aided by Santos who has a commanding screen presence and a biting sense of humor. But it's when "Kubrador" star Gina Parreno appears on screen that the movie mostly comes alive. As Santos' mother, she steals every scene she's in. I have no idea how much of her lines were exactly from the script or how much were ad libbed; nonetheless, she's a riot. Gloria Diaz plays as Agoncillo's mother and she delivers the qualities required of her haughty character. Indie film-staple actor Soliman Cruz is slightly underused here.
Despite the title that suggests something that goes into revolutionary status, there's no mistaking that at its core, "Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo" is a mass-marketed romantic comedy. Still, all things considered, the film is not only funny and engaging but also unexpectedly sincere and insightful.
