Magic wears off in Sarah and Gerald’s second screen date

Sparks flew the first time Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson’s paths crossed in Mae Cruz’s “Catch Me…I’m In Love,” a rom-com we enjoyed because of its feisty leads’ fresh rapport. But, in their sophomore project, Raz dela Torre’s “Won’t Last A Day Without You,” the attractive pair’s vaunted chemistry is compromised by situations that are too kooky and illogical to be believed.

Geronimo plays George Apostol aka DJ Heidee, who champions the cause of the broken-hearted on her radio advice show. When naughty-but-nice Andrew Escalona (Anderson) gets the brush-off from his jealous girlfriend, Melissa (Megan Young), upon the advice of George, he puts the loquacious deejay to task for his romantic troubles. His threat: “Help me win Melissa back, or lose your job!” Whoa.

But, Andrew’s ridiculous order gets George shaking in her boots and acquiescing to her aggressor’s demands! Thereafter, the wacky duo finds themselves entangled in an even dicier dilemma when they realize that they—surprise!—“won’t last a day without each other”! Aww. Will they ride happily into the sunset together? Guess!

Chemistry

If there’s one thing going for the movie, it’s Sarah and Gerald’s comfortable banter and chemistry—which help draw attention away from the rom-com’s forced humor and shallow characterizations.

Dela Torre tells a fast-paced yarn, flavored by the heady patter of the urban jungle he conjures up onscreen but the energy and excitement he cogently generates dissipate when logic flies out the window. Whatever point his movie is trying to make—about loving and taking second chances—is lost in the general muddle of an exposition that is more baffling than playfully boisterous.

In this parallel world, an angry stranger can get inside radio booths whenever he pleases, and a graduate who flunks the nursing board more than once hopes to get into med school. The story gets murkier when its masochistic lead goes out of her way to prepare a lavish dinner for the man she’s pining for and his ex—even after learning that he’s also fallen for her! Plus, what self-respecting broadcaster would get into a mascot’s costume just to pacify an irate listener? Go figure.

Maturity

In past films, we have noted Sarah’s evolving maturity as an actress—but, here, she is weighed down by an overlay of character quirks that are hard for thinking viewers to empathize with—and, despite the surfeit of tears, you keep wishing for greater emotional investment from her, because you know she’s got what it takes to show more depth and involvement.

Her producers can hire directors who can bring out the best in her, can’t they? After all, she is already 23, so it’s high time for her to take more risks—because she can’t keep “hiding” behind “tweetums” roles forever. Her admirers deserve no less.

Ironically, some of the outtakes featured in the end credits are funnier: In a scene that hilariously goes out of whack, Gerald “motivates” Sarah by mentioning a name she didn’t expect to hear—Rayver Cruz’s!