DALY CITY, California — “English Only, Please,” the romance comedy that bagged second place at the recent Metro Manila Film Fest, will start its North America run on February 20.
Fresh from its successful showing in the Philippines, the movie proved to be a big winner for lead stars, Jennelyn Mercado and Derek Ramsay.
A light-hearted romantic comedy, “English Only, Please” combines the optimism, heartbreak and fuzzy warmth of newfound true love.
It is best watched with friends and loved ones as the lines resonate with anyone who can identify with love, laughter and relationships.
The charming rom-com tells of the bond that develops between Fil-Am Julian Parker (Ramsay) and Tere Madlansacay (Mercado), the Filipino interpreter he hires.
The two come from different worlds but have one thing in common –- they are both brokenhearted.
Julian comes to Manila from New York with only one goal: to perfectly recite the Filipino translation of his angry letter to his half-Pinay ex-girlfriend Megan (Isabel Oli), all with the help of the perky and feisty Tere, the Filipino-English tutor he hires online.
Ramsay proves to be a perfect foil to the Jennylyn; both turn fine performances, fitting their characters to a T and acting very naturally.
The awards the movie has received prove that “English Only, Please” is a refreshing and welcome change to the usual slapstick or horror films lately being shown at festivals.
At the Metro Manila fest, it garnered 2nd Best Picture, Best Actor (Ramsay), Best Actress (Mercado), Best Director (Dan Villegas), Best Story (Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas) and Best Screenplay: (Jadaone).
Celebrated indie filmmaker Antoinette Jadaone, co-wrote the script with Anj Pessumal. verified the film’s success through its Facebook, Instagram and Twitter messages, with photos of sold-out and SRO screenings.
Jadaone has heard from netizens who saw the film more than once, “Three or four times, with different sets of friends. They shelled out hard-earned money to share the experience,” Jadaone said.
Jadaone, who was also behind last year’s “Beauty in a Bottle” and “Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig,” agreed stated, “There is no publicity like positive word-of-mouth. I never imagined this would happen. There are people asking for a sequel… it’s heartwarming that viewers want to follow the lives of the characters we created.”