“Saving Sally” Review: Coming-of-Age Story of Love and Monsters

SAVING SALLY (2016) Review
Directed by Avid Liongoren

Like what its director and stars try to describe their film, Saving Sally is a typical love story, it’s the usual coming-of-age story about two people being friends and having obstacles and finally being honest with their love for each other. But as advertised, the film stands out for its super stylized 2D animation from monsters, to the setting, to Marty’s (Enzo Marcos) imagination.

The film tells a common story but it doesn’t look and feel like one and director Avid Liongoren made sure of that. The film is evident of the capacity of its filmmaker, that it goes beyond simple narrative, from the traditional live-action, cliched and predictable love stories it pushes its limits by adding visual spectacle to its storytelling and it feels as though everything was done to lift the young spirit in all the viewers, making it fun, light, inspiring and mesmerizing, all at the same time.

Another odd thing about Saving Sally is the dialogues are mostly in English, but in a classy way. Enzo Marcos, Rhian Ramos and TJ Trinidad are all impressive with their roles, knowing that this film was shot 10 years ago, Marcos and Ramos doesn’t have that much exposure to acting yet but they did their characters justice, like the roles were really made for them and that makes everything in the film fun and easy to watch.

Saving Sally isn’t just for the geek or the nerds, it’s for every one and it’s unfair that we limit this kind of entertainment to a certain group of people. It’s a coming-of-age story that everyone can relate to, because we’ve been there, technically not because of the 2D animation and stuff the film added but we’ve all been Marty, or Sally, or even Nick the dick. We’re finding our place in this planet with people who we want to spend our time with.

The film is a work of someone who loves to tell stories, though common, it uses a different style to make everything look and feel new. There’s a lot of love coming from the film that it transcended to the work, Saving Sally is your ordinary story told in a not-so-ordinary way. And it’s a welcome piece of entertainment the whole family will enjoy.

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

“Saving Sally” opens December 25, 2016 in Philippine cinemas nationwide from Rocketsheep Studios, distributed by Solar Pictures. Rated PG by the MTRCB. This is an official entry to the 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival.