‘Love You So Bad’ is a refreshing, high-spirited romantic comedy that plays out as a farce, a love triangle complicated by a lie rooted in a truth. Director Mae Cruz-Alviar does an amazing job at keeping the energy high, playing right for a heartstrings, and utilizing her actors’ strengths to deliver the thrills, while pivoting last minute to deliver something more.
The movie follows Savannah (Bianca De Vera), LA (Dustin Yu), and Vic (Will Ashley), who are caught up in a love triangle that forces each of them to face their own inner demons. At the beginning of the film, Savannah is drinking and partying, trying to forget her boyfriend, LA, who has just ghosted her. In a drunken state, she inadvertently asks for help from her thesis mate and school president, Vic, who comes to her rescue.
Things get complicated when a misleading video makes it appear that Savannah and Vic hooked up, and LA officially drops Savannah in front of the entire school. To spare Savannah from embarrassment, Vic declares his love for her. In private, the two agree to play the part of a couple so that Savannah can show LA she’s doing fine without him (and hopefully to make him jealous), while Vic its as a way to motivate Savannah to take their thesis more seriously.
It’s a classic romantic comedy trope, and we know that Vic will fall for Savannah as they play the part of a couple. The movie expertly uses every cinematic element to push for these characters to collide because we also know that LA is harboring a secret and that he still loves Savannah.
Despite its classic formula, Cruz-Alviar’s direction is filled with youthful energy and plays up the romance angle expertly creating loud responses from the packed theater I was in. What surprised all of us, though, was how easily the film pivots to introduce heavier topics, like Savannah’s living conditions – she lives with her aunt who is a mistress, and LA’s family background – he’s the child of an affair of his mom and is mistreated by his mother’s husband – and, later on, the reasons behind why Vic is such an over-achiever.
While the film remains fully in romantic comedy mode, some of these subplots are either left unresolved or wrapped up too quickly. That’s not necessarily a bad thing because it creates a textured world and leaves some aspects messy, something that ultimately feels more real.
Bianca De Vera manages to hold her ground and carry this movie that revolves around her character. She’s a generous actor who shines when working in a scene with others, though she can sometimes lose that sparkle when having to perform alone. I think with more experience, she’s going to blossom wonderfully.
It seems that Dustin Yu has to fight his strong features. He doesn’t have the most expressive face which means he needs to work more on conveying his character’s internal world through his eyes or gestures. While he possesses a strong screen presence, he has a tendency to get swallowed by his co-actors. Sometimes, Yu can tap into his vulnerability, but it isn’t always consistent. I think he needs more experience and must rely less on his good looks, he could deliver more fully rounded performance.
But Will Ashley is a force. The film, inadvertently, really favors Vic not only because he comes across as Savannah’s savior, but also because Ashley has loads of charm and an everyman quality that he knows how to use. And he can really dig into his vulnerability and bring it out. You see what his character is going through even if Vic is trying to hold things close to his chest. It plays so well onscreen, and having seen him also in ‘Bar Boys: After School,’ his range is really impressive.
The film dares to push boundaries and subvert the genre, but in this case, I really wanted the film to have a full-on romantic comedy ending. It’s so well-crafted in the lines of the genre that it should finish in that same mold. But I still agree with the overall messaging and how it does it. It’s an unapologetic rom-com and I’m all for it.
I love a good romantic comedy, and this one has all the right stuff going for it but I am conflicted about the ending. Trying not to spoil anything, I love the message of the ending and what the film is trying to say. In fact, the film is subtly leading us up to it from the very start. I love how it never judges Savannah for her choices and for who she is, and I think that’s very strong.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Don’t miss Love You So Bad, check showtimes and grab your tickets now. Join Savannah, Vic, and LA on this rollercoaster of laughs, love, and unexpected heart.
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