Desertman84
Walang Kapalit,No Substitute in English,is a romantic film that stars Richard Gomez,Sharon Cuneta,Miriam Quiambao and Paul Bediones.It is a movie about an estranged couple that finds love to be sweeter the second time around.It was written by Racquel Villavicencio and directed by Joel C.Lamangan.The plot of the movie has Dennis leaving his wife,Joanna to follow his first love Celine in America.That happened eight years ago.Joanna was had difficulty coping up with the separation.The only consolation she had was their daughter,Lara.Nevertheless,she found a new love for Teddy.Suddenly,she was shocked when Dennis showed up.Determined to marry Celine,he asked her cooperation to sign the annulment papers of their previous marriage. At first,there was a lot of hostility that occurred between Joanne and Dennis.But regardless of it,the latter was happy because he saw their child after a long time.Will their love reignite after this meeting especially when Dennis has to live in Joanna's house? Your guess is as good as mine.The movie's story is basically an imitation of Reese Witherspoon starer,Sweet Home Alabama,whose lead protagonist,Melanie Carmichael also decides to return to Alabama to ask her ex-husband to sign the divorce papers so that she could happily with her fiancé that intends to marry her.It was the same situation that Dennis went through when she went back to the Philippines to ask Joanne to sign the annulment papers so that she could marry Celine and live happily ever after in the States.But of course,just like the Sweet Home Alabama,love becomes lovelier the second time around.This movie lacks originality and refreshing idea.Also,it was clichéd and predictable knowing that the lead characters are going to end up with each other at the end of the film.Nevertheless,the melodrama's themes are interesting as it tried to touch on the following issues:the sanctity of the sacrament of matrimony; broken marriages are worth another try for the sake of the children and they aren't irreparable at all; and that love can be truly lovelier the second time around among separated married couples.But inspite of the many themes explored in it,the movie fails to deliver as it wasn't explained fully why Dennis and Joanne have re-ignited their feelings for one another except the requirements of the implausible screenplay.Also,the secondary characters like Celine are given any depth as their decisions in the film aren't fully explained and explored except that they merely have to follow the requirements of the plot.The movie manages to have extracted in the good performances from the leads,Richard Gomez and Sharon Cuneta;the superb direction of Joel Lamangan; and the positive theme about second chances in marriage.Overall,this movie is still worth the view inspite of the obvious imitation.
