I'd like to believe that the theme of this latest Star Cinema offering is that the wedding is not the be all and end all of committing to a relationship. That more than the preparation itself, the sanctity of marriage is important and couples should work hard to maintain a harmonious relationship. That having a family is not just by apprehending your husband's surname to yours and to your child, but by constantly being there for you in good times and bad; loving and caring for each other not because you need to, because you want to.
But it isn't.
I Do seems artificially staged that characters and situations turned caricatures of what they really are supposed to be. Except for Lance (Enchong Dee), all characters are one-dimensional and comic versions of themselves.
From the beginning we meet the young Yumi (Erich Gonzales), she tells us her aspiration of having a dream wedding and focuses herself into getting one the moment she meets Lance. Ito na ang naging bukambibig niya from the very start regardless of what Lance feels about it or what he is going through just to give her one. On and off wedding cancellations happen that even her family has become consumed by it. Mas naging concern pa sila sa kahihiyang dulot ng paulit-ulit na pagkansela ng kasal at ng pagod at hirap na dinaranas nila kaysa sa nagkukubling dahilan nito. Not once did they talk to Yumi (and Lance) about how hard it is to raise a family given that they already have a daughter, and they are just in their early 20s. Maski ang kanilang anak na si Sofia ay naging kasangkapan lang sa kabaliwang umiinog sa kanilang napipintong pagpapakasal. The goal is to get married. Period. Without questioning their readiness for it.
On the other hand, Lance's family is opposed to the wedding not because they're young, but because Yumi is not Chinese. They didn't even give Lance a chance to become responsible for his actions and decisions. Basta hindi Chinese si Yumi, tapos! Di baleng magmukhang matapobre. Di baleng may madehadong ibang tao dahil sa kanila. Di baleng sinasaktan nila ang kanilang anak. Ang importante ay to hold on to their tradition, "Ang Chinese ay para sa Chinese."
Lance has gone through a lot from the start of his relationship with Yumi. For one thing, he weighs her feelings towards her. Ito ba ay tinadhana o pinagdesisyunan? Para sa kanya, ang pagmamahal ay isang desisyon. He decides to love Yumi even if they came from different backgrounds. He decides to love Yumi even if she seems too self-absorbed and immature. He decides to get married to her despite losing his own family in the process. In the end siya pa rin ang humingi ng kapatawaran kay Yumi at sa pamilya nito sa mga naging mapusok niyang desisyon. And all Yumi has to do was accept his apology and not take responsibility for her own actions, as well. Ang sa kanya, she has gotten her dream wedding. Period.
I admire Enchong for showing depth in his character. Kitang-kita ang confusion na pinagdadaanan niya sa tatahaking landas. In between teenage years siya at adulthood kung saan kailangan niyang matutong mag-decide on his own, subalit kailangan pa rin niya ng gabay ng kanyang pamilya na tumalikod sa kanya. It is very brave of his character to apologize for his mistakes when he is just trying to come up with a decision that would be best for all of them.
Erich is irritating! From her screeching voice to her constant whining to her overflowing tears. Walang ibang dimensyon ang karakter niya at hindi niya ma-distinguish ang pagkakaiba-iba ng dramatic peaks na kinakaharap ng karakter niya. She even borders on acting like a social climber to an overzealous girlfriend.
Nang una kong makita ang publicity photos para sa pelikulang ito, naisip ko kung bakit parang iisa ang reaksyon ni Erich sa mga larawan samantalang nagbabago ang kay Enchong. Now I know why.
Related post:
Phil Dy's Laughing it Away
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