(credit to Star Cinema)
Meanne M. Mijares
I have loved you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) KJV
A new commandment I give you: Love another as I have loved you. (John 13:34) KJV
CAST
Richard Gomez as Rick
Sharon Cuneta as Cristy
Kathryn Bernardo as Tin
Tommy Esguerra as Kyle
Liza Lorena as Tinay
Freddie Webb as Cito
Joross Gamboa
Directed by Cathy Garcia Molina
Distribution by Star Cinema
Rating PG-13
THE STORY
In the movie, Three Words to Forever, three generations of couples are challenged with a tough question: what do they need to say to each other every day to forge a long-lasting relationship? Will the words “I love you” be enough to get them through?
The most recent flick from Star Cinema sees Tin, a sprightly young woman working in New York City packs her stuff to return to the country, so she can attend the emerald wedding anniversary cum renewal of vows of her maternal grandparents Cito and Tinay. Tin who believes in forever after is stirred by her grandparents’ enduring vow, resolves to bring her boyfriend Kyle with her.
However, she is unaware that her parents’ Rick and Cristy marriage is on the brink of collapse as Rick has declared his choice to leave Cristy for good after the course of their 25-year marriage.
Though, they agreed to keep mum about it and end it after their trip to Ormoc to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Cristy’s parents. While in Ormoc, Tin tells them that she has resolved to tie the knot with her boyfriend Kyle.
STRONG POINTS
“Three Words to Forever” thrives because of its stellar cast and notable character portrayals. With director Cathy Garcia-Molina at the helm, she made sure that film’s characters have harmony as a family, so viewers can readily empathize and relate to the story. Kathryn absorbed her character with gusto that is delightful but not gruff. Our Megastar was able to personify desolation hidden by strength, while Richard Gomez connected heavily, through his calm demeanor.
Former PBB housemate and model Tommy Esguerra did quite well in his portrayal as Kathyrn’s devoted boyfriend. Because the actors’ performances are so strong, it is easy to empathize with their pain. The emotional climax of the movie just might bring viewers to tears. Joross Gamboa was awesome in providing comic relief to the film and leaving the viewers in stitches!
Sharon fares a little better, yet she, like Richard, doesn’t really commit to the requirements of her character. She never satisfies the look of a wife who is trapped in an ill-fated marriage. Fortunately, when she is compelled to dish out a gamut of painful emotions, she does so credibly. It is just in the lighter moments that her character reveals a definite lack of complexity or pragmatism. Kathryn and Liza Lorena are exceptional given that their roles are not that tough and challenging enough.
WEAK POINTS
The result is a film that is more of the same narrative formula of a seemingly ordinary family bursting at the seams with secrets that threaten to ruin their fragile harmony. I noticed that they relied on the same methodology or formulaic structure to make it thrive at the tills where they could do so much more to tweak it to fare even better. What exactly went wrong if Three Words to Forever is bound to formula that more or less would arrive at something stirring? Unfortunately, it seems that the problem to “Three Words to Forever’s fustiness is the quality of performances.
“Three Words to Forever” isn’t picture-perfect, despite its depth in the acting prowess and storytelling dexterity not to mention that its visuals are quite defective.
The film is largely shot in the scenic hills and valleys of Ormoc, Leyte, but these scenes were only presented as launching shots. Many goings on take place outdoors, and it is quite confounding why the chosen shots are done at close range. Worse, the background looks somewhat hazy and simulated in these close ups. The climax, despite all the tears, moans and snuffles, fails to deliver.
It is crucial to the character of Rick that he be helpless by Cristy’s incessant nagging. However, Richard Gomez never really embodies any flake of emasculation. He, unfortunately, never seems to let go of his drive and celebrity status, wavering to comprehend a character who has become so outshined by his wife’s domination that his only way out to regain his “machismo ” is to dodge his marriage.
I find Freddie Webb portrayal, on the other hand, lackluster and unremarkable.
Making matters worse, the most poignant scenes or highlights of Three Words to Forever hardly involve Rick, Cristy, or any of their family member’s marital woes.
The film’s most moving and even wittiest and amusing portions consist of a variety of married couples who are questioned about their marital proficiencies and encounters. The interviews are actually quite plain, sans the gloss and maneuvering that permeate the story. However, without much pomp or cock-and-bull story, the narratives of real couples have all the genuineness and candor that is totally wanting in this film.
CONCLUSION
The message of the film is that what truly matters more in a relationship are the words that are often left unsaid and unexpressed. Saying “I love you'” every day hardly suffice, especially if you hold back from coming to terms about how you truly feel.
For a relationship to thrive, honesty is important while deceit could kill it. You need to convey your inner thoughts so that they won’t grow into bitterness or umbrage. Go ahead, tell the other person how much they mean to you, but do you also out rightly say how hurt you feel by the things they say or do? This is something worth pondering on.
On a spiritual level, perhaps saying “I am sorry” is a more necessary and principal statement that can direct to forever than saying “I love you.” It has to be proven time and again. Because we are not perfect people but broken people needing to learn and relearn over and over again until we get and do it right with a changed attitude and best efforts. Saying “I am sorry” makes us humble and build bridges until we can finally say with all sincerity “I love you”.
All the characters in the film look well. The locations are attractive. When everybody isn’t complaining about their trials and adversities, everything just feels pleasant and superb. The film never really works hard enough to represent issues and its struggles, making its emotional commotions feel underwhelming and meaningless and its happy ending so monotonous. “Three Words to Forever” is such an unexciting foray.
I guess, perhaps “Three Words to Forever” is far too engaged with luster that none of the emotions it aims to induce actually resonate properly.
Don’t get me wrong. “Three Words to Forever” isn’t an awful film. It’s only your colossally basic family drama with more integral problems than the marriages it portrays.
Overall, I rate the film 3 out of 5 stars.
