No pairing as of late, except Maris Racal and Anthony Jennings perhaps, fits the billing of “accidental love team” more than the screen tandem of Barbie Forteza and David Licauco.
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What began as an unexpected success in the TV drama-fantasy series Maria Clara at Ibarra has blossomed into a serious love team with a dedicated following, with eager fans propelling BarDa to often trend on X (formerly Twitter).
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Maria Clara at Ibarra's X factor: great storytelling, stellar cast, big-budget production
But, post-Maria Clara at Ibarra and the appearances of Barbie and David in the 2003 TV dramas Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko: Lady and Luke and Maging Sino Ka Man as well as for their version of the classic OPM hit “The Way You Look At Me” in Ben&Ben's music video, the big screen remains the ultimate test to gauge the bankability of their pairing.
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Now, will That Kind of Love, their first film outing together, sustain the BarDa magic?
THAT KIND OF LOVE: SYNOPSIS
In the movie, Barbie takes on the role of Mila, a dating coach who strikes a deal to help Adam, a wealthy young man portrayed by David, in finding his perfect match.
However, Adam's exceedingly high standards, bordering on the absurd, pose a significant challenge for Mila in her efforts to find him a suitable romantic partner.
But are Adam's criteria truly odd, or is he merely pretending to have them to frustrate Mila? Is he trying to imply something that Mila just hasn't noticed?
Meanwhile, having Adam as a client, with his whims and ridiculous demands, makes Mila reflect on her frustrations, particularly her longing to find love for herself.
THE VERDICT
That Kind of Love succeeds in delivering a feel-good, typical rom-com movie that captivates viewers, especially hopeless romantics, with its fairytale-like storytelling.
At times, the narrative flow and sequences lag—especially notable in the movie's run time of two hours and sixteen minutes—only to be picked up by humorous lines here and there or by heart-fluttering scenes that leave the audience blushing.
As expected, Barbie shines in her portrayal of Mila. The Kapuso Primetime Princess, who looks even more beautiful on the big screen, convincingly acts the role of a dating coach who ironically struggles to find her own match in the romance department.
David, on the other hand, portrays Adam well, demonstrating noticeable improvement in his acting over the past two years.
While there’s still room for growth, one cannot deny David’s ability to charm the audience with his boy-next-door appeal—the quintessential Prince Charming type that fits perfectly in the rom-com genre.
Kudos also to comedienne Divine Aucina, who portrays Mila’s best friend, Aya.
Divine's performance provides comic relief that effectively balances the emotional scenes in the film.
So, does That Kind of Love live up to expectations?
For starters, the film is certainly not perfect and did not innovate within the Pinoy rom-com genre with its formula of a rich boy-meets-middle-class woman and make-believe scenarios.
To be fair, this style is inherent in rom-coms across the globe—yes, even in the beloved Korean dramas that are very popular among Filipino viewers.
On a side note, speaking of K-dramas,That Kind of Love incorporates this approach wonderfully, enhancing the visual appeal and romantic mood in many scenes by showing picturesque spots in South Korea.
It certainly helps that Barbie and David emit that K-drama aura with their looks, and their fans have taken note of their "cute" height difference.
Going back to the question, That Kind of Love has its own merits that make it a good film.
It offers plenty of kilig moments and masterfully showcases the onscreen chemistry between Barbie and David.
It is a must-watch for both BarDa fans and worth the time for lovers of heartwarming Filipino rom-com films.
Regardless of its box-office outcome, we’d love to see Barbie and David on the big screen again, perhaps in a project with a more intriguing plot and something that would highlight their strengths—maybe a period film with historical context in the vein of their past works in television would be a good vehicle for a cinema comeback soon.
That Kind of Love is now showing in cinemas nationwide.