Sneak peeks–and tantalizing tweaks

ALDUB. Forbidden-love twist for popular tandem in MMFF entry.-

New TV-film productions are being whipped up all the time, particularly at the end of a show biz season, the better to end the year with a big, boffo bang!

Those year-ender productions elicit more than the usual interest on viewers’ part, so here are some sneak previews to shed light on these special viewing treats:

When it was first revealed that the “AlDub” hit tandem of Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards would be making their first movie together, viewers wanted to know what it would be all about.

After weeks of keeping the details of their film, “My Bebe Love: Kilig Pa More” under wraps, the Metro Manila Film Festival entry’s coproducers have finally revealed that in the rom-com, senior stars Vic Sotto and Ai Ai de las Alas play bitter rivals in the highly competitive “events” field who are shocked to discover that their respective stellar talents, Alden and Maine, are falling in love with each other.

Maine is Vic’s daughter, while Alden is Ai Ai’s nephew—so, never the twain shall end up together!

The twist, of course, is that despite their decided dislike and even disgust for one another, the senior rivals also end up in each other’s arms. —Ah, the confounding and wonderful vagaries of love!

It’s instructive to observe that the “forbidden love” hook that made the AlDub couple a hit on TV is being extended to their first big-screen outing. But, we hope that the film is able to take it in new directions, to make its own kind of fresh impact.

Bolstering “My Bebe Love’s” already boffo star value is the participation of Yaya Dub’s TV lolas and Ryzza Mae Dizon.

Other MMFF entries include “Walang Forever” with Jericho Rosales and Jennylyn Mercado, “Con Man” with John Lloyd Cruz and Meryll Soriano, and “Beauty and the Bestie” with James Reid and Nadine Lustre.

New TV series: In GMA 7’s “Because of You,” Carla Abellana and Rafael Rosell are about to get married but he gets cold feet and leaves his bride-to-be embarrassingly in the lurch.

She is shattered, of course, and almost dies falling off a bridge—until Gabby Concepcion’s character rescues her—in more ways than one!

The new series’ “hugot” tagline plaintively asks, “Can a broken heart fall in love again?” With Gabby’s timely “rescuing” grand entrance, playing a still handsome and wealthy knight “in shining amour,“ the answer can only be—“Obvious ba?!”

On ABS-CBN, multiple new series are making their bid: “And I Love You So” topbills Julia Barretto, Iñigo Pascual, Miles Ocampo, Angel Aquino, Dimples Romana and Tonton Gutierrez.

The way its trailer unfolds, both Julia and Miles appear to be daughters of Tonton by different women, so sibling rivalry and even hatred are in the offing!

Meanwhile, in “Born For You,” Janella Salvador gets to play solo female lead, opposite Elmo Magalona, who used to be a GMA contract artist.

Let’s hope that his performance in the ABS-CBN show will be less lethargic and cloyingly “nice” than his past ho-hummers.