#MMFF2022 Labyu with An Accent

Labyu with an Accent: 

Rodel Nacianceno

Coco Martin, Jodi Sta Maria 

Star Cinema

Coco Martin and Jodi Sta. Maria are both well-known talented actors with such recognizable portfolios ranging from blockbuster films and trending TV shows. Jodi also recently took home the Best Lead Actress plum at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards — a first for a Filipina. With these accolades, you would honestly expect that the tandem of both of these huge A-list stars would result in a good quality romantic comedy film. 

But unfortunately, Labyu With an Accent did really disappoint as it did not give justice to the achievements of the two lead stars.

The story felt like I am watching a 90’s movie of Dolphy and FPJ, you know those movie where they meet a Fil Am Tisay, falls in love with them, gets left behind and gets to follow them in the US, tried to live in together there but they failed, realizing that life is much complicated in the states rather than in the Philippines, Labyu With An Accent has it all. 

Everything happens so fast from the first up to the third act as if the  development of the film did not gave any breathing ground for every factor of the film that supports the plot to settle for it to build up. 

Another is that both the protagonist has a senseless and prideful way of fighting for their own principles in life which sometimes it becomes so problematic for example, Jodi leaves her family for a guy he just met 3 days ago and falling in love instantly, Coco having a business where the customers should sign a contract first that will then allow them to sleep with their clients on the same bed, and others to name some. 

The narrative itself is so shallow that it will make you wonder what the goal of the movie is, how it will flow, or how it would even end without being so cliché. What was the purpose of everything you see in the frame?

Lastly, Jodi trying to talk with an accent throughout the film is so irritating and annoying, she sometimes goes off her character, I think she wasn’t comfortable doing the role.

I get it that Labyu with an Accent tries to be a happy and calm rom-com movie, but it fails to do so. It lacked some substance of an enjoyable rom com movie, it felt like a snooze fest, indeed. 

But I would still give my appreciation to the production for successfully shooting almost half of the runtime in the US which is logistically challenging, but they still managed to pull it off.

Rating: 2.5/5