The Philippine showbiz scene seems to believe that their reasons for thriving is because of the selling idea of putting the same two actors together in several different movies and TV shows. Consecutively. For a very long time.
Love teams are the crest of success for TV networks, especially when the fanbases swell, and the first movie or serye harvests soaring ratings. And when they do, the actors are glued together for life. At least until the hype dies. And trust me, networks won’t allow it so easily.
These love teams aren’t new, but they’ve been going on since forever in local showbiz. Media companies are desperately trying to pair up every single rising star with another—as if to say “This is the only way you’ll make it big here. There is no other option.”
Weirdly enough, we seem to be the only country banking on this love team approach. And while they boost ratings, media attention, and make a lot of money, we have to admit—seeing the same tandem over and over again is getting pretty stale.
And isn’t the point of the art of acting in the ability to work with whoever your scene partner is? To build the right chemistry, no matter who you’re faced with?
That is what the new tandem Kathryn Bernardo from Star Magic, and Alden Richards from GMA Artist Center proved with their film Hello, Love, Goodbye, that topped P500 million in the box office.
Kathryn is known for her love team (and also her real-life boyfriend) with Daniel Padilla, Kathniel, and Alden is profoundly popular for GMA’s AlDub love team with Maine Mendoza, from Eat Bulaga’s Kalyeserye. When the trailer for Hello, Love, Goodbye released a few months ago, fans were shocked with the new unit that Director Cathy Garcia-Molina put together. Kathniel is known to be a prominent love team with an incredibly huge fanbase, and Alden has also garnered his own massive following especially after the AlDub craze. Putting the two together, one would think that fandoms would’ve protested against it (we all know what happened with Kimerald back in the day). And more than that, the actors come from two completely different networks.
Fortunately, people took it remarkably well. In fact, fans took it so well, that the movie is now soaring with exceptional ratings.
It would be well-deserved to say that Kathryn and Alden were both refreshing to watch on the big screen together. Having seen their previous films and seryes with their original love teams, it is no surprise that both actors perform well. But Hello, Love, Goodbye just verified how strong they are as artists. There was no ounce of doubt with the unmistakable connection between the two, and they took us on a raw and emotional journey of OFWs Joy and Ethan—encapsulating the bitter-sweet passion that the characters have for each other, their families, and their careers.
After the John Lloyd and Bea Alonzo tandem, we never thought we would ever see a strong on-screen duo with no off-screen business. But of course, Director Cathy Garcia-Molina proves us wrong yet again. The movie just showed us how actors don’t have to be personally involved when it comes to making great movies. In fact, Alden and Kathryn’s friendship that is seen through their various interviews together, is making the internet go “AWWWW.”
The film was a beautiful telling and a timely tribute to the OFW community today.
Will we want to see Alden and Kathryn together on the big screen again? Definitely.
And if not? That’s okay too.
The show business is brimming with talented actors. And genuine performances lie within their capacity to work with many different kinds of artists as possible.
Haven’t caught the movie yet? I hope I convinced you to.
Photo courtesy of Alden Richard’s Instagram account
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