Cathy Garcia-Molina. INQUIRER file photo
It seems not everyone agrees that Kapamilya young actor Joshua Garcia is the next John Lloyd Cruz, at least not blockbuster director Cathy Garcia-Molina, and she explains why.
Molina has been instrumental to some of the most iconic roles Cruz has played in movies and it was because of these characters that he was cemented in the audience’s hearts as this generation’s ultimate dream guy.
Much as everyone is unique, certain people tend to resemble others who, more often than not, do not really relate to each other. Same is true in the case of Cruz and Garcia. People say they not only have strikingly resembling looks and good boy aura, Garcia also appears to have similarities with Cruz’ acting capacity, especially in drama.
However, Molina strongly disagrees, saying Garcia cannot be compared to Cruz and vice versa as both actors are individually unique.
“He will never be John Lloyd. John Lloyd will always be John Lloyd. No matter how good Joshua is, he can only be Joshua. Hindi kasi ako naniniwala dun eh, ‘yung mga ‘next next’ kasi iba si John Lloyd, incomparable as much as Joshua is incomparable. He has his own strengths, Joshua will make it on his own,” she said at the blogger’s conference of her latest movie “Unexpectedly Yours”, on Thursday.
Molina had never encountered Garcia and Barretto professionally in the past. She was only able to work with them when they were cast in this movie top-billed by Megastar Sharon Cuneta and action star Robin Padilla.
Furthermore, Molina said it is actually Kapamilya actor Enrique Gil who seemed more similar to Cruz in her eyes based on a confrontation scene he did in his 2016 hit movie “My Ex and Whys”.
“Ang actually nakita ko pa si Quen, parang nakita ko si Lloydie sa ‘My Ex and Whys’ ‘dun sa isang confrontation scene. ‘Yung staff ko ang nagsabe ‘Direk para siyang si John Lloyd’, hindi ko nakikita talaga. To me he’s unique. Siguro [they have similarities]? But I don’t see it,” she said.
On Joshua and Julia
She also has good judgments about Garcia and even to his on-screen partner and rumored girlfriend Kapamilya actress Julia Baretto.
“‘Kung tutuloy niya ‘yung ugali niyang ganyan, magaling siyang bata, magaling sila ni Julia. Si Julia, I give very little instructions. I will just tell her kung anong gusto ko, anong emotion, ganun din si Joshua, nagagawa nila ng sarili nilang version. To me sobrang gaan sa director ng ganun. They’re natural. They have undeniable chemistry. Okay sila,” she said.
Compared to their contemporaries, Molina said the unique selling point of JoshLia is their natural chemistry and their punch for comedy. Although she disagrees on comparing Garcia to Cruz, she however feels that Garcia and Barretto’s tandem closely resembles that of Geronimo and Cruz.
“Sila ang uniquely funny maybe because of Joshua, nadadala niya si Julia eh. Joshua to me is very good for Julia. Kasi di’ba si Julia mukang masungit, mukang suplada, tinatanggal ‘yun nung Joshua, so nagiging mas reachable si Julia because of Joshua. Unique sa kanila ‘yun kasi KathNiel is not known for that, neither ang LizQuen, pero sila parang Sarah Geronimo-John Lloyd Cruz na baliktad, ang light si Joshua.
Molina further said that she sees Garcia has the makings of a good drama and comedy actor. As she describes it, Garcia can make himself seem cutely “silly” without actually being annoyingly silly which is a rare feat in most actors. She also feels that the on-screen team of the two can be the network’s next gold mine.
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