Starting Over Again

Verdict: Value for Money

Pinoy Rebyu Score: 3.61 (9 ratings)

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Director: Olivia Lamasan

Writers: Carmi Raymundo, Olivia Lamasan

Cast: Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga, Iza Calzado, Lito Pimentel, Joross Gamboa, Edgar Allan Guzman, Beauty Gonzales, Cai Cortez, Bryan Santos, Ryan Yllana, Nina Dolino, Cecil Paz, Liza Lorena

Synopsis: The film starts in 2004. All throughout college, architecture student Ginny (Toni Gonzaga) was in love with history teacher Marco (Piolo Pascual). Through sheer persistence, she actually wins him over in her last year of school. The film then zips ahead to 2013. The two are no longer together, Ginny having left him years earlier to study in Barcelona. But now she’s back in Manila, and she’s been hired by Marco to design a new restaurant. She discovers that she still harbors feelings for him, and that she regrets leaving him. Unfortunately for her, Marco is already in a relationship with a woman he plans to marry. (Click the City)

MTRCB rating: PG

Running time: 130 mins.

Reviews:

4.5 Rito Asilo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

“The film’s romantic three-way premise is by no means original, but Lamasan makes it work because she has no trouble making its fusion of potent drama and self-deprecating comedy (a running gag about the Virgin Mary is particularly hilarious) settle into a coherent and ‘relatable’ story that doesn’t undermine viewers’ intelligence and sense of morality.” (Read full review)

4.5 Cathy Peña (Make Me Blush)

“While the film follows a template familiar in romantic comedies, the characters are deftly written. Moreover, each narrative element is masterfully pieced together.” (Read full review)

4.5 Pinoy Exchange

“Starting Over Again is not flawless as it still suffers from going too melodramatic at times but it totally understands the complications of relationships.” (Read full review)

3.5 Zig Marasigan (Rappler)

“The strength of Starting Over Again isn’t that it falls into the nebulous category of good cinema, but that it succeeds in eliciting something far more abstract and far more powerful. Like Marco’s letter, the film allows its audience to relive the memories of their own lost loves.” (Read full review)

3.5 Aya Tantiangco (Spot.ph)

“Without a doubt, Starting Over Again is a well-made rom-com. It’s entertaining and you will not regret buying a ticket and watching it in the cinemas. The banter is coated in wit, giving it a crunchy bite, but at its core, it’s the same old potato chip.” (Read full review)

3.5 dalebacar.com

“Starting Over Again is one of the rare Star Cinema romance films where the audience were treated as adults that can handle the realities of life. They still couldn’t do away with the usual template that has raked in millions for the studio but were at least able to end the relationship in a non-condescending tone.” (Read full review)

3.5 Mario Bautista (Showbiz Portal)

“The movie is a bit too long at two hours and 15 minutes. We felt bored in some scenes that just go on and on and should have been trimmed to make the pacing faster. But all in all, local moviegoers will no doubt relish watching this crowd pleaser.” (Read full review)

3.0 CBCP CINEMA

“Maraming aral, masaya at mahusay sana at ang pelikula kung mas nabigyan ng halaga ang pagkababae ni Ginny. Na ang kaganapan ng isang tao, babae man lalake, ay hindi nagsisimula sa iba kundi sa sariling pagtanggap at pagdiriwang ng pagkatao mo.” (Read full review)

2.0 Philbert Dy (Click the City)

“In spite of the more mature ideas behind the picture, it just never feels real. The film fails to take its own advice. It’s time to move on, but the film is intent on recapturing some old, caustic magic.” (Read full review)