High infidelity

MANILA, Philippines - Written and directed by Jun Lana, Regal Entertainment’s My Neighbor’s Wife is a polished, glossy update of the mature relationship dramas we would have decades ago. The film stars Carla Abellana, Lovi Poe, Jake Cuenca and Dennis Trillo; and there but for the absence of a time capsule are the likes of Zsa Zsa Padilla, Alice Dixson, Gabby Concepcion and Christopher de Leon. Yes, that’s how much the film is essentially a throwback to the films of yesteryear, and I say that without being pejorative, for these sober, dramatic vehicles are a rarity nowadays, and I, for one, welcome them back to current mainstream movie-making.

Carla and Jake portray power couple, Jasmine and Bullet, who have a son. Bullet owns a bar, and wants Jasmine to be a stay-home wife. They live in a lavish condo, and in the same building we find Bullet’s college buddy, Aaron (Dennis), who took up medicine but works in a garage, and his med rep wife Giselle (Lovi). The two couples hang out together, and of course, this means Giselle is perpetually playing catch up to Jasmine, frustrated over Aaron’s streak of bad luck in investing and getting ahead in life.

That’s the basic premise from which spring up situations that test fidelity, marriage, morals and our sense of entitlement, revenge and justice. As befits the subject and treatment, there are no outright heroes or villains in the film, but rather, a serious exposition of what tests married couples today can face and agonize over. Nothing really new is being placed on the table or being said on the subject matter; but the enthusiasm of the cast, the dramatic moments and lines given to each of the four, and the relative fast pacing of the film, make for an enjoyable, entertaining film.

Lovi has her incandescent presence, and once again proves her mettle for drama. Carla pleasantly surprised me in the last Shake, Rattle & Roll and she sustains that here, as the wife who sees her marriage crumbling and has to keep up appearances for the sake of their son, and remains conflicted when she enters her own infidelity scenario. Dennis and Jake both bring newfound maturity to how they attack their respective roles, and Dimples Romana (Tessa, Jasmine’s best friend) provides the shafts of bitchy humor and healthy cynicism.

Yes, there are some minor inconsistencies in the film - like your husband has a distinctive sports car but you don’t notice it as you drive off to your rendezvous, or how often does a father go out of the bathroom buck naked when his wife and son are in the bedroom - but, these don’t diminish from the satisfaction one gets to see films of this sort being produced once again. Straightforward, mature dramas have taken a back seat to comedies, family tearjerkers and costume dramas for some time now, and it’s great to have them back as viable movie options.