Eugene Domingo
Directed by Marlon Rivera; stars Eugene Domingo, Jericho Rosales, Kean Cipriano, Cai Cortez, Khalil Ramos and Joel Torre
In this film within a film, Eugene Domingo returns to portray a fictionalized version of herself gearing up to shoot her comeback movie, a romantic drama called “The Itinerary,” after a lengthy hiatus from show biz.
Her director, Rainier (Kean Cipriano), and production manager, Jocelyn (Cai Cortez), originally intended the project to be a serious drama focusing on the travails of a couple whose marriage is on the verge of falling apart.
That’s until Eugene hijacks the filmmakers’ artistic vision by suggesting all sorts of clichéd elements from formulaic romantic-comedies: a smattering of quotable quotes, maudlin acting, a gay character for some comic relief and a pop ballad that plays full blast in key moments. The height of it all is when she insists that her original leading man, Joel Torre, be replaced by Jericho Rosales.—ALLAN POLICARPIO