Miss Kitang Parang Luka-Loka

Reaction paper on Miss You Like Crazy movie

Warning: This is not a movie review, but a reflection of how I felt after seeing the film.

Baka may spoiler.

Basahin nang masira ang araw. Kebs.


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"Fate gave you a chance to be with her and you blew it."

The time: 2005. Place: Manila. There was an old man, Ulysses, who had a vision that Mia Samonte would meet a bespectacled guy by the river. He said that they were destined to be together on the 24th of January 2010.

Allan Alvarez met Mia Samonte in a "fateful meeting on board the Pasig River Ferry" (http://www.movienews.me/2010/01/miss-you-like-crazy-movie-trailer.html). He’s cute, a bit nerdy-looking, and kapita-pitagan. He's committed to Daphne Recto, his better half of four years. During that time, he's jaded. Being criticized by his girlfriend, hated by a colleague for reaping the benefits of an alleged nepotism, and other details I missed because of answering sms while watching it, he gets troubled. His meeting with Mia was not a love-at-first sight thing. She slapped him for saving her from an alleged suicide attempt. But they got together, and he develops feelings for Mia. It was a whirlwind romance, for they ended up having sex. Mia later finds out that he's attached. They talked to negotiate their relationship. But Mia ends up waiting for nothing, and flies to Malaysia to work and forget about the incident.

"Now that fate brought us together, there's no way in hell you’d get between us."

Allan goes to KL for a conference or training, with hope that he'd chance upon Mia in the city. And he did. This time, she works in the hotel where he's staying. Allan was persistent to get her contact details from her colleagues, but they couldn't allow him. Wandering in the city, and going to the park where Mia told him about the view of the Petronas towers, Allan visits the place to reminisce and there he saw Mia, who happened to try to escape him.

In another encounter, Allan learns about Mia's new boyfriend in the person of Mir (not sure of the correct spelling). Allan was not disheartened, but forces his way to win back Mia's heart. But he was pushed away by Mia's acceptance of Mir's marriage proposal. It appears that she used the engagement as a form of revenge to Allan for leaving her in the air. But deep inside her heart, she still loves Allan. Mir reaches out to his fiancé to make the relationship work, but Mia can't hide the fact that her heart and actions shouts Allan's name. In the end, Mir gives up the fight and sets Mia free.

Just when Allan was losing hope that Mia would not return, the prediction comes true in the nick of time. They're back in each other's arms after several grueling years of waiting.

"Mia: Masaya ako pag kasama kita. Allan: Ako din…"

The moralistic viewer in me took over to somehow negatively assess the story, but I still appreciate the production. I was also sort of “hyped” by the grapevine. Friends would say it’s as moving as, but more emotional than “One More Chance”. A blogger-friend Tristan (http://www.tristantales.com/2010/02/may-i-moment.html) even thought that MYLC was the sequel to OMC. It’s a box office hit, and lately I was impressed with Star Cinema’s line-up of recent good movies, that it heightened my curiosity to catch it on the big screen.

The moralistic viewer in me didn’t feel good about the first sexual encounter of Allan and Mia. But it happens in real life. What I’m trying to say, is that it didn’t feel right for someone from the outside looking in. There is obvious commission and omission. There’s hurting the main partners (who are supporting characters). And there’s subtle expression of how a mistake can be corrected by somehow incorrect means. Let’s just say, I can relate to the main characters for the cheating, but I sympathize with the supporting ones for facing the situation.

Personal note: I’ve been a cheater and I experienced being left by someone, either due to my cheating or other reasons. I greatly feel for those left behind because moving on is difficult. If rejection is already painful to me, I can imagine the pain of breaking up after years of being together with another person. And that notion fuels my fear of break-ups and empathy for the broken-hearted, may s/he be the abandoned or the fleer.

I just felt that Allan and Mia’s relationship was not good to begin with. And neither was it the expected ending for me. There were so many coincidences in the film, a lot of events that would make their paths cross. Given it was fate, would you personally break another relationship just because you thought you’re meant for each other in the end, as told by a prediction?

I’m not all against Allan and Mia’s re-union. Call me bitter, a non-believer of fate, and a sour viewer who was not moved by some of the film’s romantics. In all fairness, MYLC presents a story most of us can relate to. The production bills stars with huge charisma and acting prowess. And the entertainment value is fairly acceptable for a romantic drama.