Don’t believe the tagline, because Sid and Aya IS a love story.
What it clearly isn’t, instead, is a fantasy. It’s a tale of romance that’s more realistic than the usual sugar-coated boy-meets-girl-and-they-fall-in-love fare.
Sid (Dingdong Dantes) is a wealthy stockbroker who has insomnia. Every night, he hangs out in a coffee shop to pass the time. There he meets Aya (Anne Curtis), a café worker who will do anything to earn extra money.
He hires her to accompany him during his sleepless nights.
The rules are simple: Sid will pay Aya PHP1000 per hour just so that he has someone to talk to. Sex is off limits. The two have to be honest with each other, but cannot judge each other’s actions.
It doesn’t take long for complications to set in. They both fall in love, but find it hard to tell each other. Sid believes that life should follow a strict pattern, and he does not want to gamble when he’s unsure that he will win. Aya, on the other hand, is too focused on fulfilling her obligations to her family.
THE GOOD. Sid and Aya’s strength lies in its actors. Both Dingdong Dantes and Anne Curtis lend honest and sincere portrayals that bring their characters to life. The two are so good that I forgot that they are actors portraying a role.
The movie is at its best when only the two stars are onscreen while in deep conversation against the backdrop of a vibrant cityscape. It is here when the viewers are taken in intimately, quietly relishing in stories of Sid and Aya’s lives.
The movie also looks gorgeous. The city at night looks cold but intoxicating, the streets full of people who are aloof to our heroes because they have stories of their own.
THE BAD. The movie goes astray when it tries to involve these other people into the narrative. For example, Sid’s relationship with his enterprising uncle and Aya’s relationship with her estranged mom were not fully established, so scenes with them fall flat.
THE WORTHY. Sid and Aya soars when it focuses on the two lead characters, but weakens when it tries to tell stories of the people around them.
But it is still a good story that explores the realities of romance in the real world.
Ed's Note: The "PEP Review" section carries the views of individual reviewers, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the PEP editorial staff.