‘Mary, Marry Me’: A fun-filled flick with love and rivalry

Mary, Marry Me is a 2018 Philippine romantic comedy film directed by RC Delos Reyes and starring Toni and Alex Gonzaga and Sam Milby. It marks the first film to star the Gonzaga sisters, and the reunion project between Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby, who starred in 2009’s Ang Tanging Pamilya: A Marry Go Round. Mary, Marry Me was released on December 25, 2018 as an official entry to the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Mary Jane (Toni Gonzaga) and Mary Anne’s (Alex Gonzaga) relationship gets tested in ‘Mary, Marry Me.’ It’s all cute and dandy for the first few months, but as soon as all the problems start creeping out of the closet, staying with it becomes an absolute chore. The film is lovely at first, as it briskly details the sisterly bond between Mary Jane and Mary Anne, who are abruptly separated after their parents are killed in a car accident, forcing Mary Jane to send Mary Anne to live with their aunt in the United States.

The two reunite under the unlikeliest of circumstances, with Mary Jane serving as wedding planner to Mary Anne’s upcoming marriage to Pete (Sam Milby), who happens to be Mary Jane’s ex-boyfriend. Its premise may look delightfully bizarre on paper. However, given that screenwriters Mika Garcia-Lagman and Juvy Galamiton had to make do with what feels like a draft, the premise actually exposes a glaring vice of most films being produced today — relying on intriguing premises rather than solid storytelling.

The casting of the Gonzaga sisters and Milby actually opens up a very golden opportunity for the film to merge real life, pop culture with its ridiculous story of sisters feuding for love