*MINOR Spoilers Ahead*
“Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes” tells the story of two wives trapped in a relationship with their cheating husbands. The premise is quite overused already, but the manner in which the narrative was utilized in a fresh way. Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban play Cindy and Lianne, who coincidentally meet due to being married to Gary (Joross Gamboa) and Felix (JC De Vera), who apparently were having an affair together. Scorned and betrayed, the women concoct a plan to decipher their plan and potentially derail their planned life together.
Filipino showbiz fanatics will surely get a kick with the movie as it also marks the big screen reunion of Mara Clara originals, Santos and Gladys Reyes since they last shared the screen almost two decades ago via the ABS-CBN series, "Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka." Produced by Star Cinema, Quantum Films and IdeaFirst Company, the film is written by Jun Lana and Elmer Gatchalian, while the former helmed the project.
Santos’ and Panganiban’ years of experience acting in different genres gives them the commanding presence on-screen. This is one of the few times that a star power was pivotal when it comes to a film’s success as having two familiar faces makes it’s more outrageous aspect an easier sell. Sure, “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes” oftentimes cross the fence when it comes to reality and campy ridiculousness, but throughout its course, it was able to maintain the core of its story, which is still rooted on real-world situations and experienced by some of us.
Lana’s approach on the tricky LGBTQ aspect of the story is both fun but non-fictional. More importantly, not in a way that is a blatant insult to members of that community, and the relationships they have. While it’s true that in the end, Gary and Felix’s technically sinful bond (not because of their sexual orientation but because they are married to other people) is the movie’s central plot device that kicks off the events that follows, it is handled in a way that is both fun and still sensitive to those who find themselves in the same hot spot.
Despite the different twist in the cheating narrative, “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes” was able to execute its plot points and even script in a way that it’s not alienating other people who may not be in the exact same situation, but can relate to the predicament. This makes the movie highly appealing for a wide viewing demographic.
“Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes” proves that Filipino comedy can not be lazy and derogatory. That movie-going audience has the right to have fun in the theater without feeling as if they’ve seen all the gags and the humorous bits elsewhere. The fact that the film even intertwined a tricky subject but not a patronizing or at least in a heavy handed way is something to be commended at.
Watch full trailer here:
— ALD, The Summit Express
“Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes” tells the story of two wives trapped in a relationship with their cheating husbands. The premise is quite overused already, but the manner in which the narrative was utilized in a fresh way. Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban play Cindy and Lianne, who coincidentally meet due to being married to Gary (Joross Gamboa) and Felix (JC De Vera), who apparently were having an affair together. Scorned and betrayed, the women concoct a plan to decipher their plan and potentially derail their planned life together.
 |
| Judy Ann Santos as Cindy and Angelica Panganiban as Lianne in ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes’/Star Cinema |
Filipino showbiz fanatics will surely get a kick with the movie as it also marks the big screen reunion of Mara Clara originals, Santos and Gladys Reyes since they last shared the screen almost two decades ago via the ABS-CBN series, "Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka." Produced by Star Cinema, Quantum Films and IdeaFirst Company, the film is written by Jun Lana and Elmer Gatchalian, while the former helmed the project.
 |
| Joross Gamboa as Gary and JC De Vera as Felix in ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes’/Star Cinema |
Santos’ and Panganiban’ years of experience acting in different genres gives them the commanding presence on-screen. This is one of the few times that a star power was pivotal when it comes to a film’s success as having two familiar faces makes it’s more outrageous aspect an easier sell. Sure, “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes” oftentimes cross the fence when it comes to reality and campy ridiculousness, but throughout its course, it was able to maintain the core of its story, which is still rooted on real-world situations and experienced by some of us.
Lana’s approach on the tricky LGBTQ aspect of the story is both fun but non-fictional. More importantly, not in a way that is a blatant insult to members of that community, and the relationships they have. While it’s true that in the end, Gary and Felix’s technically sinful bond (not because of their sexual orientation but because they are married to other people) is the movie’s central plot device that kicks off the events that follows, it is handled in a way that is both fun and still sensitive to those who find themselves in the same hot spot.
Despite the different twist in the cheating narrative, “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes” was able to execute its plot points and even script in a way that it’s not alienating other people who may not be in the exact same situation, but can relate to the predicament. This makes the movie highly appealing for a wide viewing demographic.
 |
| Angelica Panganiban as Lianne and Judy Ann Santos as Cindy in ‘Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes’/Star Cinema |
“Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes” proves that Filipino comedy can not be lazy and derogatory. That movie-going audience has the right to have fun in the theater without feeling as if they’ve seen all the gags and the humorous bits elsewhere. The fact that the film even intertwined a tricky subject but not a patronizing or at least in a heavy handed way is something to be commended at.
Watch full trailer here:
— ALD, The Summit Express
