ONE MORE CHANCE

originally posted by Migs on November 20, 2007

A friend, single and gay (and jaded?), sends me a text message one evening: "I just watched John Lloyd and Bea’s One More Chance. I shouldn’t have watched it. It just made me feel I was not really for any romance. It will never happen to me." Aba nagda-drama ang lola, I told myself. The next day an officemate was excitedly raving about his watching the same movie. Then, last night, I was reading the papers and saw an article talking about the movie getting a “B” rating from MTRCB. Wow, this buzz marketing is getting into me. So what did I do? I went straight to the moviehouse to end the buzz-inspired curiosity.

The story is simple. John Lloyd is Popoy, a well-intentioned straight-laced boyfriend to Bea’s character, an artsy-fartsy t-shirt designer cum architect named Basha. The central issue was Basha’s desire to find her individuality amidst her world that, because of her committed relationship with Popoy, had become too controlled, constricted, and thus exhausting — like a hamster running inside a fancy terrarium wheel. This pushed her to break up with poor Popoy, leaving him a dashed china, pulverized further by his big and bold dreams of married bliss that went crashing down on him as Basha severed the romance. All in the name of finding her relevance in this world.

The movie progressed by showing how Popoy and Basha lived their lives post break-up, and how their close-knit friends supported them throughout the ordeal. Of course, the ending was as expected (kaya nga One More Chance ang title noh!), but how it got there was pretty moving enough to make me enjoy the movie. Why so?

First, finding one’s relevance in this world is something I can very well relate to. I can totally understand how one can give up such big things as “romantic love” for the sake of finding one’s place in this world. Love is all great, but if you don’t know yourself and your relevance, then what a waste.

Second, I liked how the movie emphasized the value of friendship and all the ceremonies and traditions that it somehow creates. In the movie, Popoy and Basha had a barkada who met every Thursday evening for dinner. In this simple gathering, they celebrate individual milestones — and it was palpable how joy is multiplied if shared with loving people around you.

Third and last, I was blown away with how the movie portrayed love’s power — how it can be the most powerful change agent in someone’s life. And I mean not only romantic love, but also love of self, of family, and of friends.

So yes, I encourage you to watch the movie. Don’t stare too much on John Lloyd’s nipples though. There are many more and better things to lick and like in the movie than those lovely brown protrusions.