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‘Family History’ review: Surprisingly poignant debut

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

There’s a delicate sense of awkwardness that pervades throughout Family History , comedian Michael V.’s surprisingly poignant debut feature. 

Tragedies and betrayals

The film is a family drama that navigates the emotional turmoil of Alex dela Cruz (also played by Michael V.) after learning that his wife (Dawn Zulueta) has been diagnosed with cancer and also that she has been cheating on him. 

What sets it apart is that instead of relying on tearful outbursts to send its message across, Michael V. posits humor, turning what could have been a run-of-the-mill melodrama into an intricate character study of a perennial optimist suddenly dealt with a string of tragedies and betrayals. The jokes and witticisms can be off-putting at first, especially when they are blurted at the most inopportune circumstances such as during a doctor’s consultation or at the expense of another person such as the ones delivered behind the back of a homosexual boss who is still in the closet. 

However, as the film persists with this purposefully inelegant melding of nonsense and real life concerns, it becomes apparent that there is rhyme and reason to the misplaced and misdirected wisecracking, that the preponderance of gags and smiles serves as a mask of normalcy amidst a maelstrom of feelings that are far too complicated to comprehend. 

Family History is precious because it deeply understands that tears, cries and whimpers aren’t the only logical response to depression. There is also escape, dubious laughter and unlikely merrymaking, all of which Michael V. expertly utilized to project the complicated humanity his character needs to keep intact in times of crisis.

Innate and apt

This isn’t to say that Family History is a perfect film. 

The film still bows down to the demands of simplistic plotting, with threads that favor formula than less convenient and recycled narrative solutions. For example, the storyline of Alex’s son (Miguel Tanfelix) culminates like most other standard storylines involving youth finding themselves troubled by familial pressures with a song contest where a syrupy ballad that imbibes the more mawkish sentiments of the film is performed. 

The film’s faults lie mainly on Michael V.’s desire for his film to be more of a wide-eyed crowd-pleaser than a possibly disagreeable and complex examination of an ordinary man trying to sustain enthusiasm despite pressing issues. 

There is more to Family History than the jokes or the drama or those two elements not gelling gracefully, whether intentionally or not. The film feels familiar, except its grooves, rhythm and mood are not as simple to pin down. It challenges without completely surrendering mainstream appeal and charms. Sure, it all ends up more awkward than necessary but with a main character that thrives in problematic awkwardness, it all seems innate and apt.

Robust stings

Family History is both smart and handsomely made. 

It has bitter stings that are only sweetened by goofiness. Michael V.’s foray to filmmaking proves to be quite a pleasant revelation. — Rappler.com

Francis Joseph Cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas’ Tirad Pass.

Since then, he’s been on a mission to find better memories with Philippine cinema.

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Family History (A Movie Review)

Alex (Michael V) is an optimistic and successful animator, with a beautiful wife and kind son. Everything seems perfect until they learned that his wife May (Dawn Zulueta) has stage 4 cancer. To make matters worst, she revealed that she has been cheating from for 2 years already.

What I like: The cinematography is lit. It’s rosy and colorful like some sort of filter you’ll choose if you want to be pretty in pictures. I think it reflects Alex positivity in life even toppled by multiple problems. I also love the insertion of animations here whenever Alex’ mind is in chaos. It’s crazy and beautifully crafted.

Nonie Buencamino as gay boss is my favorite character here. I love all his scenes. It felt like he has more heart than everyone in this movie. He’s really a gem. It’s obvious that he’s the best actor in this movie. Even with the minimal number of scenes.

The Message of the Movie

Obviously the message of the movie are targeted for married couples. They should work on their communication and make sure they don’t lose their touch amidst busy schedule and struggles. They should work together to keep the romance alive. You’ll never know when tragedy strikes so make sure to express love whenever you can. Don’t neglect each other.

What I don’t like:

The jokes and drama don’t jive well. The scene is serious and could have made an impact but they just have to drop jokes in such an awkward way. Drama can be funny too. It’s just did not work on this one. Some are even downright cringy. I’m a fan of Bitoy and seriously I watched this one solely because of him. I also believe he can be a great drama actor. I still remember the time he acted in an Eat Bulaga Lenten Drama Special where he acted as mentally-challenged man. Damn,he was so good! He did it here in this movie too but sadly, his character’s jokes felt forced and unnatural for the situation. The momentum of the drama is often destroyed.

The twist in the end and the subplot about their son did not add impact to the whole narrative. The scene between him and John Estrada was like a big joke. It could have been the climax of the movie. It could have been a heart-wrenching moment as Alex finally faced the cheating partner but once again it felt flat. Super flat.

Final verdict: 2 out of 5 stars

The movie is confused if it wants to be an impactful family drama or to be a comedy. Did not succeed to both categories.

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REVIEW: Michael V. shifts deftly from comedy to drama in Family History

It has been three years since GMA Films, now known as GMA Pictures, has produced the AlDub blockbuster, Imagine You and Me, which was actually a co-production venture with APT Entertainment and M-Zet Productions.

Despite its success at the box office, it would take three years before GMA announced its next big screen offering. And from the looks of it, the Kapuso network has pulled out all the stops in ensuring that Family History , the production company’s comeback film, comes with all the expected bells and whistles.

Not only is it written and directed by one of its biggest stars, actor-comedian Michael V., the film is also headlined by veteran actress Dawn Zulueta along with two of the network’s rising young stars: Miguel Tanfelix and Bianca Umali. And there are cameos by GMA top guns Dingdong Dantes and Eugene Domingo.

So do all of these ingredients add up to a worthy comeback? Let’s see.

In Family History , Michael V. or simply Bitoy plays Alex, a hotshot animator who despite his old school ways is pretty much a happy and contented family man. With his usual jolly demeanor, he is depicted as a loving husband to his beautiful wife May (Dawn) and a supportive dad to son Malix (Miguel) who is in a relationship with school mate Jenna (Bianca).

Everything seems to be all peachy. Or is it? As the film would later reveal, it turns out that May is not very happy with their union, at least not anymore since Alex has become too focused on his work and has forgotten all the reasons why they fell in love in the first place.

Malix, although smart and talented, can’t do anything with the bullies in his school and is also annoyed at his father’s Luddite ways and Google wisecracks.

It all comes to a head when May is diagnosed with cancer. Faced with her mortality, May later confesses to Alex that she had an affair. To make matters worse, he would later know more details about the affair from May herself. Alex ends up being attracted to the woman (Ina Feleo) who is connected to his wife’s paramour (John Estrada).

Family History is a throwback to some of the classic films of Dolphy ( My Heart Belongs to Daddy and Home Sic Home comes to mind) where the Comedy King plays an everyman who finds himself dealing with a string of misfortunes.

Bitoy does an outstanding job of essaying Alex’s gamut of emotions especially when he snapped after finding out about his wife’s infidelity and also in one climactic monologue. He showed that he can be a fine dramatic actor if he can only temper his flair for comedy in some of the film’s more emotional highlights.

Being a natural comedian, however, Bitoy can’t play it straight for long and that’s okay for the most part because comedy is his bread and butter and that’s why people would come to see this movie anyway.

During his confrontation scene with John Estrada, Bitoy was expressing his anguish to the former when he suddenly said something that no one saw coming. Everyone in the theater just exploded with laughter.

Although she was bedridden for more than two thirds of the film, Dawn was her usual excellent self in the film’s dramatic scenes. To her credit, she complemented Bitoy’s comedic timing in one scene where she had to reveal the details of her affair.

Miguel and Bianca, more popularly known as the love team Biguel, are given adequate screen time that not only provide enough kilig moments for their fans but should also contribute well to their development as actors.

The standouts among the supporting cast, however, are Kakai Bautista as Dawn’s best friend; Paolo Contis as Bitoy’s office buddy; and Nonie Buencamino as his effeminate boss who would later reveal a personal secret that is, well, no secret at all. All three either provide or enhance some of the film’s funniest moments.

But Family History is basically Bitoy’s show through and through and thankfully, it’s his omnipresence that carries the film.

The film’s plot calls for a more dramatic treatment but Bitoy (with the help of around five or six “senior writers” that are revealed during the closing credits) just could not help adding a punchline or two in just about most of the scenes.

There are even a couple of scenes in the final act that employ slapstick humor that today’s audiences may find more cringeworthy than downright funny.

The cameos of Dingdong and, especially Eugene, are also unnecessary as their roles can be easily played by any character actor. Eugene’s character, in particular, does not really do anything to push the story forward and only serves to amplify a punchline.

Too many subplots also contribute to the film’s overlong running time of over two hours, which could have been trimmed down to further enhance its pacing.

Overall, Family History is a fine directorial debut for Michael V. Gorgeously photographed and co-produced by GMA with Bitoy’s own Mic Test Productions, the seasoned comedian has put a lot of thought, care, and attention to detail into what ultimately amounts for a labor of love on his part.

While too many cooks (yes, those senior writers) tend to almost spoil the broth and some of the subplots did not tie up as well as we would have wanted to, the film as a whole has more than enough entertainment value and yes, family lessons going for it to make it worth your while.

GMA Pictures did well with its big screen return. Here’s hoping for more films from them in the near future.

Family History has been graded B by the Cinema Evaluation Board.

Ed's Note: The "PEP Review" section carries the views of individual reviewers, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the PEP editorial team.

Miguel Tanfelix and Bianca Umali play a couple in the dramedy film Family History.

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Family History (2019)

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A heartwarming story that seeks to teach family values, life, and marriage.

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Dawn Zulueta

Nonie Buencamino

Kakai Bautista

John Estrada

Miguel Tanfelix

Bianca Umali

Paolo Contis

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10 Family Movies That Are Almost Perfect

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The broad genre of family movies is vast and can encompass many smaller genres. The most consistent description is that a family movie is primarily targeted at children but is conscious of the parents and older siblings who may be watching and thus doesn't talk down to its audience. They can come in many shapes and forms, from animation and live-action; the average Disney movie is often a family movie, as are live-action efforts like Home Alone or even the first two Harry Potter movies.

Due to this flexibility, family movies can be enjoyed by any age demographic in any period, and some might get a stronger reception with age. Indeed, some family movies are so beloved because of their stories, characters, scores, or screenplays that they can be considered perfect, even if there's something holding them back. With so many movies to choose from, it isn't easy to narrow it down to just ten choices worth highlighting above all others. However, these family movies stand out because of their near-flawless nature , making their genre proud.

10 'Despicable Me'

Directed by chris renaud and pierre coffin.

Felonious Gru ( Steve Carell ) is an evil genius hoping to make his mark upon the world, especially after a younger villain named Vector ( Jason Segel ) stole the Great Pyramid of Giza. He comes up with an ambitious plot to steal the moon, but Vector interrupts his attempt to steal a shrink ray. This sabotage leads Gru to adopt three orphaned sisters as part of a scheme to steal the shrink ray, but over time, he comes to love them.

Despicable Me is a charming subversion of spy movies by focusing on the villain's perspective that began Illumination's rise among animation studios. One thing that helps the film is its charm: Gru goes through a strong arc, shifting from villain to hero, and the scenes between him and the girls are sweet and heartfelt. The film also introduced the world to the Minions , who have become a staple of popular culture thanks to their silly antics and iconic nonsense language, for both better and worse.

Despicable Me (2010)

Not available

9 'Luca'

Directed by enrico casarosa.

Off the shore of the Italian town of Portorosso live Luca ( Jacob Tremblay ) and Alberto ( Jack Dylan Grazer ), two young sea monsters who dream of one day traveling the world with a Vespa. When Luca's parents learn of the children's ambitions, they plan to send him to live with his uncle in the deep to keep him away from humans, so Luca and Alberto run and hide in Portorosso. They befriend a human girl named Giulia ( Emma Berman ), and the three decide to enter the town's annual triathlon to use the money to fulfill their dreams.

Luca lacks the same emotional punch as many of Pixar's best films , but for what it is, it is a beautiful story about friendship and tolerance. It captures the simple innocence of childhood dreams, finding fun in the simple things, and struggling to maintain friendships when everyone has different interests. The use of the sea monsters also leads to many different forms of interpretation, such as revealing one's true self to those one cares about and the struggle of groups like immigrants and queer people to fit into a society that doesn't always tolerate them.

8 'Enchanted'

Directed by kevin lima.

Giselle ( Amy Adams ) is a fairy tale heroine who can't wait to marry her true love, Prince Edward ( James Marsden ). Unfortunately, on their wedding day, Edward's stepmother, Queen Narissa ( Susan Sarandon ), pushes Giselle down a wishing well, which transports her to New York City. There, she meets Robert Philips ( Patrick Dempsey ), a divorced lawyer, who allows Giselle to stay with him and his daughter, Morgan ( Rachel Covey ), while Edward and Narissa's servant, Nathaniel ( Timothy Spall ), travel to New York to rescue and kill her respectively.

Enchanted is a fun movie that sees Disney poking fun at its clichés and iconic storylines while still respecting the tales that made it the juggernaut it is. The best parts are when the fairy tale characters try to adjust to life in the real world, where events like randomly breaking out into song are seen as weird. Each character is fun and does a good job of representing their archetype, but Giselle is the standout thanks in large part to Adams' Golden Globe-nominated performance and beautiful singing voice. Enchanted 's final act succumbs to tropes and shoddy VFX , but everything that comes before is a whimsical treat.

7 'Babe'

Directed by chris noonan.

A piglet named Babe ( Christine Cavanaugh ) is won at a fair by Arthur Hoggett ( James Cromwell ) and brought to live on his farm. He befriends the sheepdog Fly ( Miriam Margolyes ) and a duck named Ferdinand ( Danny Mann ), who thinks he's a rooster. Over time, Babe demonstrates skill at sorting, which prompts Arthur to train him to herd sheep.

Babe is a beautiful film on both a technical and storytelling level. While the CGI used to make the animals talk is a bit dated , the film makes great use of practical effects and animatronics, to the point that sometimes it's hard to tell what is a real animal and what is fake. The story is sweet and uses the animal characters to deliver a rather impactful message about inspiring kindness in others, the dangers of prejudice, and how the most unlikely of people can do extraordinary things.

6 'The Goonies'

Directed by richard donner.

As their homes face foreclosure, Mikey ( Sean Astin ) and his friends meet up for a final weekend and discover a treasure map that leads to the treasure of legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy . Hoping to use the treasure to save their homes, the kids follow it into an underground cave network filled with traps. They also run into the dangerous Fratelli crime family, who want to steal the treasure for themselves and won't hesitate to kill some kids if they have to.

The Goonies makes the most of its simple plot by putting most of its time and effort into the characters. Each of the kids feels real and has strong, defining character traits, such as Mikey's optimism and Data's ( Ke Huy Quan ) love for quirky inventions. Then there's Chunk ( Jeff Cohen ), who adds a lot of emotion to the film by bonding with Sloth ( John Matuszak ), the abused member of the Fratelli family. The Goonies ' unique and distinctive style might be too much for some , but for the vast majority, it's a bonafide childhood classic that keeps getting better with age,

The Goonies

5 'time bandits', directed by terry gilliam.

One night, a young history buff named Kevin ( Craig Warnock ) is shocked to learn that his bedroom contains a portal in time and space. From it comes the Time Bandits, six dwarves who used to work for the Supreme Being ( Tony Jay and Sir Ralph Richardson ) before deciding to steal a map of the universe and rob history blind. As Kevin tags along, the group is monitored by a personification of Evil ( David Warner ), who wants to take the map for himself.

Time Bandits combines a creative premise with the legendary British wit and humor of Monty Python's Flying Circus to create a unique experience. Mixed among its creative time-travel escapades is commentary about consumerism, faith, the dichotomy of good vs evil, and a childlike sense of wonder. It also manages to be a very progressive film since the bandits are all played by actors with dwarfism . Time Bandits is not perfect, but that's very much the point , and who are we to argue?

Time Bandits

4 'home alone', directed by chris columbus.

As the McCallister family prepares to spend Christmas with their relatives in Paris, the youngest, Kevin ( Macaulay Culkin ), is picked on by his older siblings and cousins, causing him to wish his family would disappear. That night, a storm knocks out the family's house, causing them to oversleep and accidentally leave Kevin behind in their haste. At first, Kevin enjoys being home alone but soon discovers that two criminals called the Wet Bandits are planning to rob it.

Home Alone is rightfully beloved for Cuklin's amazing performance and the hilarious slapstick during its third act. However, there is so much to love beyond these elements, such as the film's sincere message about family and reconciliation. Kevin's mother, Kate ( Catherine O'Hara ), is also a complex yet wonderful character, especially in the scenes where she is willing to do everything from selling her possessions to traveling with polka musicians if it means getting back to her son.

3 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'

Harry Potter ( Daniel Radcliffe ) is a young boy living with his cruel and uncaring relatives. One day, he learns that he comes from a long family of wizards and is enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He befriends fellow first-years Ron Weasley ( Rupert Grint ) and Hermione Granger ( Emma Watson ), learns how to perform magic, and uncovers a plot to steal a powerful magical artifact hidden in the school.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone i ntroduced audiences to the wizarding world, and though not as dark and mature as later films in the franchise, it remains beloved for its fantastical world. Thanks to impressively designed sets and the blending of budding CGI with old-school film tricks, the movie evokes a magical atmosphere that makes Hogwarts feel like a living, breathing location. Philosopher's Stone 's dumbed-down tone compared to the book and excessive exposition can sometimes be too clumsy , but any issue in the plot is offset by the talented older actors, including Richard Harris , Maggie Smith , and Alan Rickman ​​​​.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2 'willy wonka & the chocolate factory', directed by mel stuart.

The world is thrown into upheaval when mysterious candy maker Willy Wonka ( Gene Wilder ) reveals that he has hidden five golden tickets inside his Wonka bars and scattered them around the world. Whoever finds them will be given a tour of his fantastical factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate. One of the winners is Charlie Bucket ( Peter Ostrum ), a poor boy who longs for a better life.

This adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was infamously despised by the book's author , Roald Dahl . Still, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory has become a timeless classic thanks to its catchy songs, fantastic acting, and sense of childlike wonder. Charlie is also a wonderful protagonist; while not a bad kid, he has moments of selfishness and frustration, which makes his situation more empathetic to viewers. Then there is Wonka himself, who is nothing short of iconic thanks to Wilder's fantastic performance, especially with how quickly he can shift from indifference to extreme emotional outbursts.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

1 'kung fu panda', directed by john stevenson and mark osborne.

When Master Oogway ( Randall Duk Kim ) of the Valley of Peace has a vision that foretells the return of fallen martial artist Tai Lung ( Ian McShane ), he decides it is time to train someone to become the fabled Dragon Warrior to stop him. To everyone's surprise, he picks Po ( Jack Black ), an obese panda and kung fu enthusiast. Oogway's friend, Master Shi-Fu ( Dustin Hoffman ), tries to get Po to quit so one of his students can be trained instead, but Po proves to have a never-quit attitude and inspires Shi-Fu to see things differently.

Kung Fu Panda 's premise might seem ridiculous, but its mixture of emotions and comedy made it one of DreamWorks' best movies and spawned an entire franchise. Kung Fu Panda is a story about self-discovery : Po hopes that learning kung fu will make him into someone better than who he currently is; instead, learning kung fu helps Po to realize that the potential for greatness was always inside of him. It reminds audiences of all ages that they are each a unique individual with something great to offer the world; they just need to believe in themselves. Sadly, the supporting characters have very little to do , meaning that the likes of Hoffman, Angelina Jolie , and Jackie Chan get almost no dialogue.

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In ‘Good One,’ a family camping trip is full of emotional switchbacks

Justin Chang

Lily Collias brings a nearly wordless intensity as Sam in Good One. Smudge Films hide caption

Too often, the month of August is regarded as a fallow period for moviegoing, after the big blockbusters of the summer but before the awards contenders of the fall. But the aptly titled new movie Good One is a reminder that there are always smart, interesting films being released, if you’re willing to look beyond the obvious. As it turns out, looking beyond the obvious is something that the writer-director India Donaldson has a real knack for. In just 90 minutes, she tells a three-character story that appears simple enough on the surface, yet it’s so sharp and engrossing that you might not immediately notice the deeper story taking shape underneath.

Lily Collias plays 17-year-old Sam, who’s going backpacking in the Catskills with her father, Chris — that’s the terrific James Le Gros in a too-rare leading role. They’re supposed to be joined by Chris’ oldest friend, Matt, and his teenage son, Dylan. But Matt winds up being the only one to come along; he and Dylan’s mom are recently divorced, and Dylan isn’t taking it well.

Chris himself has been divorced for a while, and he and Sam have a pretty harmonious relationship by comparison. They seem to get along even when they’re bickering, as happens when Chris criticizes Sam’s driving.

Much of the movie consists of Sam listening quietly as Chris and Matt go on and on, reminiscing about old times yet always finding new things to grouse about. Chris, a savvy outdoorsman, can’t stop complaining about how badly Matt has overpacked for a three-day hiking trip.

These are the 19 movies we're most excited about this summer

While the two men rarely ask Sam how she’s doing or feeling, they seem cool enough where it counts. Chris has long been supportive of his daughter’s queer identity; she has a girlfriend whom she texts during the trip, whenever she can get a cellphone signal. Matt tells Sam that she’s wise beyond her years: Unlike all the other reckless, rebellious teenagers out there, she’s a rare “good one” in his book.

Scene by scene, however, writer-director Donaldson paints a subtler picture of the dynamics at work. At times Good One reminded me of Kelly Reichardt ’s quietly perceptive 2006 drama, Old Joy , which also squeezed a lot of emotional history into a fateful camping trip.

You get the sense that Sam has traveled a bunch with her dad and Matt before, and that she’s long adjusted to her designated role. When the three of them share a motel room on their way up to the Catskills, it’s Sam who instinctively rolls out her sleeping bag, without even being asked, leaving the two beds to the men. And once they reach their campsite, it’s Sam who cooks dinner for the three of them without complaint. The dynamics are complicated. Beneath the men’s easygoing manner, there’s an unmistakable air of condescension toward Sam, a sense that their appreciation of her is more conditional than genuine.

If Sam resents them for any of this, she doesn’t show it, at least not at first. Collias gives a beautifully understated performance; with very little effort, she can register everything from wry affection to barely concealed exasperation. And Donaldson, working with the cinematographer Wilson Cameron, proves as keenly observant as her protagonist. She’s alive to the beauty of the mountains, whether it’s the sight of a majestic canyon or the sound of rushing water. Some of the movie’s slow-simmering tension arises from your uncertainty about what might be lurking nearby, whether it’s a bear in search of food or three young men they cross paths with on the hiking trail.

But Good One isn’t one of those movies in which a journey into the wilderness spirals into horror. The dangers that Donaldson introduces are of a more intimate and perhaps more insidious nature. There comes a moment in the story when everything changes, and it’s at once surprising and unsurprising, all too believable and, in the moment, perhaps a little contrived.

But that hardly matters. What matters is how Sam responds to this sudden shift, and Collias shows her unpacking that response almost in real time, and with a nearly wordless intensity. Good One has the concision of a sharply etched short story, but what happens by the end can’t be easily summed up. Sam won’t soon forget the lessons of this particular trip, and neither will we.

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50 years ago in Expo History: Bing Crosby misses Expo after surgery

Why wasn’t Bing Crosby, Spokane’s most famous son, performing at Expo ’74? After all, his movie sidekick, Bob Hope, had already performed.

The answer was found in an Associated Press interview, datelined Los Angeles.

Crosby had been “absent from show business for a year,” and was still recovering from surgery early in 1974 that “cost him half of his left lung.”

“I’m still a little stiff,” he told an interviewer. “The doctors made a big cut across my back, slicing through the nerves. I’m still a little numb.”

His health troubles had begun months before, with a pain in his shoulder. X-rays eventually showed a spot on his lung, which is why he underwent surgery. The growth was nonmalignant and was diagnosed as a “rare fungus that infects the lungs through the air.”

Crosby said he hoped to return to show business by fall.

From 100 years ago: A streetcar conductor fainted at the controls, and passenger William Wallace sprang into action.

He knew nothing about the controls of a streetcar “but managed to bring the car to a stop” and save “possible injury to several woman passengers on the car.”

The conductor soon came to and was treated at the emergency hospital. So was Wallace, who found the experience so traumatic that he had what was described as “a slight heart attack” after the event.

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1908: Henry Ford’s company builds the first Model T car.

Local seed grower grateful to Providence team for stroke care

On November 22, 2020, Fred Fleming was driving home when he started slurring his words.

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Family history.

Directed by Michael V.

A heartwarming story that seeks to teach family values, life, and marriage.

Michael V. Dawn Zulueta Nonie Buencamino Kakai Bautista Ina Feleo John Estrada Miguel Tanfelix Bianca Umali Paolo Contis Eugene Domingo Dingdong Dantes

Director Director

Writer writer, editor editor.

Vanessa U. De Leon

Cinematography Cinematography

Rommel Sales

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Jacqueline R. Carlos

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Carol B. Bunagan Lilybeth G. Rasonable

Production Design Production Design

Leo Cabrillos

Composer Composer

Archie Castillo

Mic Test Entertainment Inc. GMA Pictures

Philippines

Primary language, spoken languages.

English Tagalog

Releases by Date

24 jul 2019, releases by country.

125 mins   More at TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by LinusMxx ★

Michael V. just doesn't know how to properly write a cancer-themed drama mixed with humor. The film's entire tone is uncomfortably awkward and weird. The treatment of its female characters are also problematic. I mean, they were verbally abused, sexually harassed, and at one point, mentally killed by the main character himself — and all of those were portrayed just to illicit some laughter from the viewers.

Review by Mars 🍭

Unbearable, self-righteous drivel. Michael V seems to love himself as much as he hates women. Treats being gay as a running joke as well. It’s a good thing this won’t earn much and make any significant cultural impact.

Review by mina ½

very problematic as fuck. first we get jokes about being gay and cancer or any form of illness then we get alex who seems to be very annoying and probably hates women (e.g. him blaming anna for just being kind but instead states she was being flirty towards him) and it seemed like all of a sudden the film just forgets that may actually cheated....cause i didn't....idk...this ain't it chief

half star because those are some sick animations but that's about it

Review by OntheVirg ½ 1

"Ba't Ganun", a song that plays three times within the last 10 minutes of the film is a question you will be asking yourself a million times over as you watch this.

Review by YulsXVI ★

I was uncomfortable for 2 hours

Review by ingmar birdman ½

gusto ko sapakin lahat ng magdedefend ng pelikulang to

Review by luna ½

this movie is problematic in so many ways… alex’s boss being gay was treated as some sort of joke, alex said anna was “asking for it” after she showed him kindness, may’s cheating was condoned in the end, and lots of other stuff. watching this movie was like enduring two hours worth of torture—it’s the worst movie i’ve ever seen. my lola should be thankful i love her enough to sit through one hell of an unbearable, fugly show with her.

Review by arys ½

magpasalamat nanay ko na mahal ko siya at sinamahan ko siyang panuorin 'to

Review by ean

puta tara na lang manood pepito manaloto

Review by dear

LORD NAG MAMAKAAWA PO AKO PAKIBALIK PO ANG DALAWANG ORAS NA NASAYANG KO SA PALABAS NA ITO.............................. ang order ko kase pelikula, baket niyo ko binigyan ng basura?!%#/$&* PLS I WANNA THROW UP maski 1/2 star hindi deserve nito DIYOS KO!!!!

Review by Gabby ★

Bitoy (Michael V.) doesn't know how to shift tones and how to execute a realistic family drama that captures life of the characters he created.

The direction and cinematography repetitively uses the same style throughout the movie to the point that it felt amateurish. Most of the movie is cringeworthy and cheesy to the point that I walk away from the TV.

I noticed that the poster looks like a fantasy movie. And I think that the movie was just a fantasy in Michael V's head.

Overall, Michael V tried. But I think the movie tries so many things that it loses itself on the process.

Review by alex ½

Every person in this movie is a terrible person.

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It ends with us ending explained.

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Where To Watch It Ends With Us: Showtimes & Streaming Status

It ends with us parents' guide & pg-13 rating explained, it ends with us review: justin baldoni’s acting & directing saves this hazy, flimsy adaptation.

This article includes discussions of domestic violence and rape.

Spoilers for It Ends With Us are ahead!

• The movie adaptation of It Ends With Us strengthens the message about surviving abuse with its powerful ending.
• Lily's decision to leave Ryle physically and mentally shows incredible bravery and strength as an abuse survivor.
• The significance of the oak tree symbolizes Lily's strength and resilience throughout the story.

Though the movie is based on Colleen Hoover’s hit book, the movie adaptation of It Ends With Us includes a powerful ending that changes the source material in order to strengthen the message about surviving and recovering from abuse. The story follows a woman named Lily Bloom, played by Blake Lively , who watched her mother experience abuse in childhood and never wanted to get into the same situation. Unfortunately, after her father’s funeral, she meets a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, who she’s immediately attracted to. They meet again months later after Lily unknowingly hires Ryle’s sister at her flower shop.

Ryle flirts with Lily, pushes her boundaries, and tries to come onto her despite her asking him to stop. Ryle wears down Lily, and the pair start a relationship. Though their relationship starts out well, Ryle starts abusing Lily. She doesn’t realize the severity of the situation until she meets her childhood love, Atlas, again , who immediately recognizes the domestic violence. After a rape attempt, Lily goes to the hospital with the help of Atlas and learns she’s pregnant. This revelation leads to It Ends With Us’ emotional and hopeful ending that shows the strength of abuse survivors.

Colleen Hoover's book has finally become a movie, and there are different options for where to watch It Ends With Us in theaters or on streaming.

Why Lily Leaves Ryle In It Ends With Us

Lily leaves ryle after finding out she's pregnant in it ends with us.

The two most powerful moments in the movie adaptation of It Ends With Us are when she physically leaves Ryle after he tries to rape her and when she mentally leaves him by demanding a divorce. When she physically leaves Ryle, it’s out of fear for her life. Her decision appears instinctual and driven by a flight response. She later decides not to go back to him, mentally leaving Ryle because of her daughter. Though Lily loves Ryle, she realizes her responsibility as a parent to give Emerson a better life than she had.

Lily leaving Ryle is an incredible act of bravery, especially since the most dangerous time for a domestic violence victim is when they leave.

Moreover, Lily knows how easy it is to get trapped in the cycle of abuse because that’s what happened to her mother. In one of the most devastating moments outside the abuse scenes, Lily breaks down to Atlas about how she wasn’t supposed to become her mother. She thought herself too smart to get into an abusive relationship, not realizing that intelligence doesn’t factor into abuse. However, she became so desensitized to the red flags of abuse because of her father that she didn’t recognize them when it came to Ryle.

Ultimately, Lily leaving Ryle is an incredible act of bravery, especially since the most dangerous time for a domestic violence victim is when they leave (via JBWS ). Luckily, she chooses to announce the divorce in a public space, mitigating some of the risk. She also doesn’t seem to maintain a co-parenting relationship with Ryle in the movie, which is an important change from the book that protects her child.

If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, please call the domestic violence hotline at (800)799-7233 or visit thehotline.org .

Atlas & Lily's Past History Explained

Altas and lily were each other's first loves.

In It Ends With Us , Atlas is the first person to recognize that Lily is being abused by Ryle, and that’s due to their history. The two met when they were teenagers. Atlas experienced homelessness due to an abusive home life and developed a romance with Lily while staying at the abandoned house next door. Because of their relationship, Atlas saw and heard the abuse happening at Lily’s house. He also was nearly killed by Lily’s dad. Between his personal experience and witnessing Lily’s home life, Atlas was primed to recognize the signs of abuse in a relationship .

Additionally, Lily and Atlas had sex when they were teenagers, which Ryle learns on the first day he meets her. Lily also has a heart tattoo that represents a hollow wooden heart Atlas carved for her. This part of their history becomes important to the story because Ryle uses Atlas and Lily’s romantic history as an excuse to abuse Lily.

To be clear, there’s no acceptable reason to abuse someone . Even if Lily were cheating with Atlas – which she wasn’t – Ryle’s abuse would still be wrong. Moreover, Ryle shows many red flags before Lily meets Atlas again, such as coercion, control, and crossing of boundaries. Lily and Atlas’ past simply allows Ryle a way to justify his abhorrent behavior.

How Ryle Paralleled Lily's Dad

Ryle and andrew bloom are both charming men with a need for control.

Colleen Hoover’s book and the movie adaptation both use subliminal messaging to demonstrate the cycle of abuse. One of the most significant examples of this is the parallels between Ryle and Lily’s dad, Andrew Bloom. Ryle and Andrew Bloom are both powerful men with high-profile jobs that lead to praise. Ryle literally holds the lives of people in his hands when he goes to work. Meanwhile, Andrew Bloom had the ability to influence the lives of everyone in his town as the mayor. Both characters have jobs that give them power and control, which primes them for domestic violence.

It End With Us has a PG-13 rating, but viewers should be aware that the content might be more disturbing to some than the MPAA rating would indicate.

On top of those similarities, Andrew Bloom and Ryle are charming and charismatic, though the book displays more of Andrew’s charm than the movie. Like these two It Ends With Us characters , abusers don’t typically abuse everyone around them. They can be charming and charismatic, which allows them to lure in victims and continue their abuse without intervention. Ultimately, these parallels play an important role in explaining how abuse works and why Lily gets trapped in the cycle.

Did Ryle's Family Know About His Abusive Nature?

Lily reveals ryle's abuse to allysa at the end of it ends with us.

The movie adaptation of It Ends With Us makes significant changes to Colleen Hoover’s book, including whether Allysa knows about Ryle’s abusive nature. The source material makes it unclear whether Allysa knows that Ryle is capable of abuse. However, the movie explicitly confirms that Allysa had no idea about the abuse during Lily’s conversation with her towards the end of the movie. This change makes Allysa less culpable in enabling her brother’s actions. It also makes it more meaningful when she tells Lily that she will never speak to her again if she goes back to Ryle.

The Significance Of The Oak Tree In It Ends With Us

The oak tree in the backyard of Lily’s childhood home is an important symbol throughout It Ends With Us . In the flashback of Altas and Lily, the pair discuss the fact that flowers, fruits, and vegetables rely on love in order to flourish; however, the oak tree grows regardless of how it’s cared for because it is strong enough to thrive on its own. Though she believes herself to be more like the vegetables in her garden, the oak tree represents Lily as a character.

By the end, she is thriving as a woman and a mother despite the lack of love from her father and the abuse she experienced at the hands of Ryle. Additionally, it’s symbolic that Ryle bites the tattoo that’s based on the heart made from the oak tree. He tries to tear down every ounce of her strength, but in the end, both the tattoo and Lily are okay.

Does It Ends With Us Fix The Book's Controversies?

It ends with us adds important nuance to the story.

Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us faced controversy due to the romanticization of abuse, the use of domestic violence as a plot twist, and the book’s ending. The first trailer made it clear that the movie was trying to rectify the issues with the source material. Rather than painting the story as a love triangle or a romance, the domestic violence storyline was abundantly clear. Luckily, the movie followed suit by correcting the other problematic elements.

It Ends With Us is a mixed bag of great acting and good direction begging to escape its hazy narrative.

The movie presents the topic of abuse in a more nuanced way, distinguishing that the situation isn’t romantic, even if Lily romanticizes the relationship in her head. Atlas presents the option that Lily could abort her pregnancy with the use of the word “if” instead of “when,” which the book never brings up. Ryle isn’t portrayed as the “good guy abuser” like he is in the book. He also shows more red flags from the start. At the end of the movie, Lily also doesn’t let Emerson spend unsupervised time with Ryle.

The Real Meaning Of It Ends With Us’ Ending

Victims aren't defined by their trauma.

The end of It Ends With Us makes two big changes from the book that are meaningful. Firstly, the movie shows the time between Lily giving birth and her meeting Atlas again. During this montage, Lily becomes more vibrant and joyful, a dichotomy from the way she acts while in a relationship with Ryle. Her face is also no longer empty, regaining the expressiveness and life that she had early in the movie. This addition shows that it’s possible to live a fulfilling life after abuse. The trauma may always be there, but it doesn’t have to define Lily.

Lily is giving her daughter the life she would have wanted at the end of It Ends With Us .

Secondly, the ending of the movie adaptation has Lily raising Emerson seemingly alone rather than co-parenting alongside Ryle. This change offers hope that people can escape their abusers and give their children a better life than they had . Rather than relying on her abusive ex, Lily finds a support system through her mom, Allysa, and eventually, Atlas. Her daughter won’t be exposed to her father, who has a history of violence. Ultimately, Lily is giving her daughter the life she would have wanted at the end of It Ends With Us .

Sources: JBWS and The Hotline

It Ends With Us

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My Hero Academia: Ochaco Character Guide

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While Izuku Midoriya/Deku is the protagonist and most important character in My Hero Academia , the anime generously found time to develop and deepen many of Deku's classmates and friends to make them worthy shonen heroes in their own right. There may not have been time to flesh out all 20 students in UA's class 1-A, but My Hero Academia did develop a handful of them, including Deku's shonen-style rival Katsuki Bakugo and his new best friend, the charming Ochaco Uraraka.

For much of My Hero Academia 's runtime, Ochaco Uraraka was happy to be Deku's mirror and counterpart. She consciously modeled herself after her new friend Deku, drawing inspiration from his boundless courage and determination while shaping herself as the young hero Uravity. Even if Ochaco was born with a Quirk while Deku wasn't, Ochaco still understood what it means to be a total underdog with everything to prove, so it was only natural that she and Deku remained close as classmates, friends, and partners. And there's much more to say about her beyond that, too.

My Hero Academia: Deku Character Guide

Izuku Midoriya is one of the most compelling characters in My Hero Academia, and though his story is an open book, there's more than meets the eye.

What is Ochaco's Family History in MHA?

She owes everything to her parents.

Most of the students in class 1-A have simple family lives, with Shoto Todoroki being a notable exception with his family drama. Ochaco, like many of her classmates, only has her parents appear on-screen as token family members, but even if there isn't much to know about Mr. and Mrs. Uraraka personally, My Hero Academia fans may still like what they see. While Katsuki Bakugo yells at his mother and Shoto has serious baggage with his hero father Endeavor , Ochaco Urarak gets along perfectly with her parents, as seen in a brief scene with them soon after the UA sports festival tournament.

Fans know that Mr. and Mrs. Uraraka work in construction, but it's not easy for them. They cannot always find work, so the Urarakas have had a tough financial life for years. That is why Ochaco has so few personal accessories and even had a flip phone while her classmates all had smartphones, like iPhones or Androids. Mr. and Mrs. Uraraka both pushed themselves hard to support their sole daughter and let her have a fairly normal life, and a deeply grateful Ochaco is ready to literally repay them. As Ochaco once told Deku and Tenya Iida early in the anime, she plans to send her paychecks to her parents while working as a pro hero to give her parents the financial comfort that always eluded them. That's a simple but heartwarming and realistic reason for Ochaco Uraraka to strive to become a hero, and it's one of the most selfless motivations seen in class 1-A.

My Hero Academia: Todoroki Character Guide

Shoto Todoroki is one of the more complicated Heroes in MHA, with a troubling past that affects his personality and the way he uses his quirk.

What is Ochaco's Quirk in MHA?

She has a non-damaging emitter type.

Ochaco Uraraka was born with the Zero Gravity Quirk, one of many emitter-type Quirks found in class 1-A. The difference is that unlike Quirks like Explosion or Half Cold Half Hot, Ochaco's Zero Gravity Quirk cannot directly deal damage on its own. It's not a "magic attack" type of Quirk, meaning Zero Gravity encourages the use of creative thinking and support-oriented strategies instead. This suits Ochaco's personality just fine, since she lacks Bakugo's and Shoto's aggression while having a team-oriented, constructive mindset.

Ochaco's Quirk is one of many in My Hero Academia that activates with physical touch. If Ochaco touches an item or person with all five fingertips, that object will become weightless and thus float around. There is an upper limit to how heavy the affected item can be, but with enough training, Ochaco can increase the weight limit to expand her options during battle or rescue operations. The affected item will remain weightless until Ochaco touches all her fingertips together, and the item will instantly regain all weight. Usually, this means an item floating into the air will come crashing back down. Also, Ochaco can use this Quirk on herself, but doing so makes her nauseous, which calls for more training to mitigate.

My Hero Academia: Bakugo Character Guide

Despite his abrasive personality, Bakugo is easily a fan-favorite character in the MHA franchise, but there's more to him that fans should know.

What Inspired Ochaco's Hero Costume and Name?

She likes her hero name but miscalculated with her costume.

During the episode in which class 1-A's students decided on their hero names, a few students named themselves after their Quirks or aesthetics, while others derived their new names from their personalities, self-image, or even their actual names. That's why Shoto Todoroki simply called himself "Shoto" and Izuku decided on "Deku," while Ochaco had a two-pronged approach. She decided to blend her last name with her Quirk's name and effect, thus her new hero name of Uravity. She is the Uraraka girl who has mastered gravity, and in English written with katakana, those two words combined fairly well. It rolls off the tongue, has personal meaning, and is memorable and distinct without being too long. Overall, Ochaco had one of the better ideas when class 1-A had its hero name brainstorming session.

Ochaco Uraraka's hero costume design was mostly envisioned with aesthetics in mind. Ochaco opted for a charmingly feminine design with thick, high-heeled boots and a blend of pink, white, and black, though as she admitted early in the anime, Ochaco made a few errors. The end result was more skintight than she expected, but Ochaco got used to it and didn't have further complaints about how her costume felt. She did little to change the design aside from altering the headgear, since her first costume had a glass visor over it while the second design had two smaller headpieces instead.

While Ochaco was free to design her costume mostly with aesthetics in mind, she did include a few subtle features to make her Zero Gravity Quirk easier to use. Her costume's headpieces reduce her dizziness by restricting the stimulation of her inner ears, while the collar is meant to reduce the possibility of headaches, and her high-heeled boots have shock absorbers for when she lands after floating around.

Bleach: Uryu Ishida Character Guide

Uryu Ishida was originally meant to be a rival to Bleach's primary protagonist, Ichigo, but over time the pair brought balance to each other.

What Are Ochaco's Weapons and Special Moves?

Ochaco tends to combo with her classmates.

At first, Ochaco Uraraka had a limited ability to fight on her own, as her struggle in the UA entrance exam showed, but over time, Ochaco found creative ways to use her gravity manipulation. One of the earliest and best examples was in the UA sports festival tournament , when Ochaco baited Katsuki Bakugo into striking the ground to create debtis, with Ochaco sending all that weightless debris into the air to create an aerial attack named Meteor Swarm. Then, Ochaco started using combo attacks with her classmate Tsuyu Asui, with Ochaco making heavy items weightless so Tsuyu can throw them high into the air before Ochaco restores their weight so they come crashing down on the target. That move was soon dubbed Meteor Fafrotskies.

Ochaco didn't make use of any special weapons or items at first, but later on, inspired by Deku's Blackwhip, Ochaco added grappling hooks to her fighting style. She thus invented the move called Zero Satellites, making items weightless and then throwing them at her enemy with those hooks, similar to Deku flinging items with great force via Blackwhip. Ochaco first used Zero Satellites when fighting Himiko Toga in an abandoned house.

10 My Hero Academia Characters With The Perfect Send Off

As the dust begins to settle with the final chapter of the My Hero Academia manga, several characters get the send off they wholeheartedly deserve.

What is Ochaco's Academic Background?

She's a mediocre student on paper, but that won't stop her growth.

Overall, Ochaco Uraraka is a fairly effective student on a practical level, and she is a mediocre and unremarkable student on paper. Practically nothing is known of her academic life before getting accepted into UA, aside from very brief scenes showing her in a fairly typical middle school girls' uniform, a blue and white sailor outfit in particular. As for her studes at UA, Ochaco can pass any exam or test to keep up with her classmates, though she tends to rank in class 1-A's bottom half, quite a few ranks away from her best friend, the study-savvy Deku.

During Shota Aizawa's Quirk Apprehension Test, Ochaco ranked 10th, a decent score, and in the mid-term grades, Ochaco ranked 13th, while Deku was in the top five. She was seen studying hard for the midterms, to the point she was nodding off while taking notes. Evidently, while Ochaco has the right stuff to pass a written test, she's not a naturally gifted student like Momo Yaoyorozu , and must work much harder than average to deliver results.

What this MHA Character's Death Means for the Franchise's Endgame?

MHA has killed off or sidelined characters before in order to show how strong a villain is & to raise the stakes.

What Are Some Other Facts About Ochaco Uraraka?

One notable aspect about Ochaco Uraraka's design isn't just how it turned out, but how it almost turned out. During the planning stage for My Hero Academia 's manga, author Kohei Horikoshi had totally different visions for his main characters, especially for Ochaco. She was originally slated to have Mt. Lady's Quirk, but then Mr. Horikoshi realized it would be a technical challenge to have a main character repeatedly become a giant, so that Quirk was transferred to the pro hero Mt. Lady, and Ochaco ended up with her Zero Gravity Quirk instead.

Ochaco Uraraka can also be compared to Hinata Hyuga of Naruto fame, starting with the fact that they share a birthday. They have much more in common on a personal level, with them both being shonen action heroines who draw inspiration from and have amorous feelings for the male lead. Hinata Hyuga's life was changed for the better when Naruto Uzumaki gave her words of encouragement during the chunin exam story arc , and Hinata created a nindo to reflect Naruto's own. Ochaco Urarak didn't quite need the same boost from Deku the way Hinata did from Naruto, since Ochaco already had some self-confidence that Hinata lacked. Still, Ochaco quickly attached herself to Deku and strove to emulate him, to the point Himiko Toga could sense Ochaco's passionate admiration and fondness for Deku from the moment those girls crossed paths in the forest.

My Hero Academia

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