My Perfect You: A surreal cinema surprise

I am big fan of Cathy Garcia-Molina and Olivia Lamasan, so you might think that liking this movie is already "automatic" for me.

To be honest, I really had no plans of seeing the movie. I am not a fan of the stars, and somehow, at close scrutiny, I already know what the routine of a Cathy Molina film is- busy characters, busier bit actors, interactive environment running on natural occurrence. Yet, I always get baited with the great story and portrayal of the unique characters bolting from the cookie-cutter type that Star Cinema's rival film outfits don't seem to get.

At first, I thought it was a typical irreverent comedy about a dysfunctional city guy and an innocent provincial lass. For the first half of the movie, you will find yourself laughing to your heart's content. However, as the remaining half of the movie takes the reel, you will realize how Cathy Molina is beyond genius, how Carmi Raymundo will never run out of ideas, and how Star Cinema will always be the standard for creative content.

Without being a cute spoiler, you will never expect the twist of the plot. Yet, it tackles a very important social issue that Filipinos have taken for granted- mental health. The main theme of the movie was further enhanced by tight shots that show the raw emotion of the actors. The color palate of the set design showed how beautiful are our local forests (coming from someone who hates environment). But most importantly, the ending showed that there can be hope, and that despite our imperfections, the decision to move forward or stay on our comfort zones is up to us.

True enough, this movie has redefined how Philippine cinema can be at par with international standards of creative content, and on top of it, one director abounds.