BROKEBACK OUTBACK

The title of my review is kinda intriguing but please don't blame me coz that was my first impression when I first caught the trailer last MMFF. Love Me Again (Land Down Under)really shows a lot of cowboys. When it comes to these rodeo riders, the only word that pops into in my head immediately is “brokeback” Back then I was wondering if they were trying to make a “Pinoy Brokeback Mountain”. Since Piolo is paired with Angel Locsin. The issue is now discarded. But the movie is not that ambitious at all. Once again, an anticipated movies turns out to be a movie soon to be buried.

Arah is the daughter of a womb-to-tomb cowboy in Bukidnon. Her quondam swain Migo returns after a retentive trip around the globe to Bukidnon and pursuing her again for a second chance. Arah remains repellent to his woos eventually she accepts his love. Everything has fallen apart when Arah's father encounters an accident during the rodeo festival. She has no volition but to accept the offer to work as a cook in Australia to pay for his treatment. Migo is livid because Arah is leaving him. Their love story temporarily ends in Bukidnon. Years later, Migo follows her to Australia and ask her to love him again only to find out that she is now betrothed to the ranch owner.

There's nothing new to the premise except that we see cowboys in the film. I never knew that we have a lot of cowboys in the south. It's all the same premise we see from previous OFW pictures. It's predictable and sad to say ho-hum. I find Migo as a selfish character. If he truly loves Arah then he should understand her situation. It's a simple quandary but the writer tries to complicate it. It's so annoying watching the overhasty ending. That's it??? Actually, it's also side-splitting to see Migo advancing to a boyish cowgirl like Arah during the first part of the movie.

I'd rather change the movie title to Bukidnon. It's amazing to see the green wonders of that province. Did they really shoot in Australia? Oh c'mon if they did then it's just a waste of time and dough. I knew the Australian Outback by heart coz I have watched it in Survivor for so many times. The outback is entirely splendid but here in the movie all we see is just a dirty red desert. The scenes in Australia are exhausting. I wish I could loosen up watching the scenes but they are so debilitating. The film only shows a dirty boring ranch and you have to endure the deadening ambience. Yeah, there are 2 kangaroos, 1 koala and 1 iguana caught in the camera . So that's it? I'd rather watch Animal Planet instead. There are only three scenes that I like in this movie. First, the opening scene of Migo and Arah in Bukidnon, next is their first kiss in Bukidnon, and lastly, the last chase and kiss in Bukidnon See, the film should be titled BUKIDNON!!!! How about the much talked about love scene? Is it really titillating? Unfortunately, it is kinda hilarious because the background song by Piolo Pascual kills it! Why not settle for a romantic piano score or crying guitar as an alternative? The actors do it passionately however it lacks the oomph.

It's nice to see Angel Locsin's melioration. Totally huge! I praised her before in TXT and in The Promise. In this movie,you won't see her as “the actress who relies only on visual effects”. The plethora of her crying scenes however is draining. It's the first time that Piolo is not disenchanting. I mean he tries to act like Rustom Padilla I mean Robin. Supporting actors and extras are calling him “idol”. It's like a deja vu of Robin's idol days. The love hand gesture is just cheesy. Who would for that? Enteng Kabisote fans probably. They should have cast a good Australian actor (preferably hunk) for the role of that ranch owner who falls in love with Arah to build up tension on the love triangle. He simply read his lines. He is an uninteresting actor.

Love Me Under (Film Down Again) is the also the right title for this movie aside from the suggested Bukidnon.The pairing of the two stars is phenomenal but it lacks the so-called panache and chemistry. This film only caters to the fans of Piolo and Angel who wouldn't care if the movie really sucks. Catching 40 winks inside the cinema while watching this is inevitable so it's better to wait for the real “Australia” soon from Baz Luhrmann.

The Wings - Jishcand & MJ