THE HOPEFUL ROMANTIC (2018) Review
Directed by Topel Lee
Topel Lee directing a romantic comedy movie, I was actually surprised when I knew who the director of Regal Films’ newest romcom movie The Hopeful Romantic is.But what really works in the film is its comedy. When it punches its humor, it goes all the way. Not in a family-friendly way though. But that’s the thing, The Hopeful Romantic is funnier when it gets naughtier.
The film tells the story of Jess (Herrera), a hopeless romantic who’s still a virgin until he meets what he thought to be her one true love, Veronica (Azul). The two made out and but Jess, who looked rich to Veronica at that time, did not thought that he gets more than what he bargained for for what he thought was true love. Veronica, on the other hand, tries to make Jess buy her luxurious stuff as much as possible because of something that happened in her past. Are the two really in love or are they just fools for believing in love without knowing each other that much?
Pepe Herrera and Ritz Azul has good chemistry and impressive comedic timing and with Beverly Salviejo and Vangie Labalan with them, the film is a riot. Director Topel Lee have chosen the right artists to play the characters in the film, it works because of their ability to make the audience laugh and that is harder than making the audience cry.
The Hopeful Romantic may be convoluted when it comes to creating its story but it will definitely make you laugh more than you expect and that’s a guarantee. I just wish it weren’t as conscious in making the film “family-friendly” or would go as a PG-rated film because it really gets more entertaining when it gets naughtier.
“The Hopeful Romantic” is now showing in cinemas nationwide from Regal Entertainment, Inc. Rated PG by the MTRCB.