"Meet, Greet & Bye" [2025]

(When love is all that’s left, you fight with everything you have, for the family, for mama)

Film

Maricel Soriano, Piolo Pascual,

Joshua Garcia, Juan Karlos, Belle Mariano

Written by: Jonathan Albano, Patrick Valencia, Cathy Garcia-Sampana

Directed by: Cathy Garcia-Sampana

Star Cinema

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RATING: ⭐⭐⭐.5 / 5

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SYNOPSIS:

A mother, who loves watching K-dramas, decides to stop her chemo treatment after losing hope of getting better. Her only dream before dying is to meet her ultimate K-drama idol, who is visiting Manila for a series of events. Her four children agree to work together with the condition that once their mother meets their idol, she will undergo therapy before her time runs out.

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STORY:

It is inevitable to compare this movie with other past family drama films like Four Sisters and a Wedding and Seven Sundays, especially since all three were directed by the same director. But nevertheless, I still came in with an open mind and see the movie on its own and not out of comparison.

However, if you'll ask me, there are still some similar elements here that share the same narrative as those movies mentioned, like the eldest being the favorite of the parent, the middle child who has sacrificed so much and carries internal resentment toward the other family members, and the youngest who tries to keep the family together. And I think that is not really a bad thing, because come to think of it, that is what normally happens in real life.

When it comes to the story, it has a typical and straightforward narrative. The siblings gather together to find ways to cure their mother's worsening condition. While others resort to traditional means, some go for the most obvious path.

What I like about this film is how they were able to execute it without all the fuss. For me, they didn't rely on big movements or grand deliveries to convey where the characters are coming from, especially in those confronting scenes. I'm sure you'll get me once you see the film. Everything flows naturally, and those scenes that others might say have nothing going on actually give the audience a deeper understanding with the characters. Some scenes might seem longer than they should be, but I think in those moments you'll see the raw emotions of the characters, which consistently shows when the confrontation scenes finally happen, it becomes a well-paid-off moment.

There are two particular scenes that really made me tear up. And I think the reason for such a reaction is because the characters really played their roles very well. Their superb performances made the audiences invested just by watching the first few moments of the film.

SYMBOLISM:

There was a review of this film that I happened to pass by on TikTok. I chose not to read the whole thing so it wouldn’t affect my overall perspective of the film, but there was one line that struck me. It said this movie is no longer about siblings fighting each other but about how a family accepts and faces an oncoming death, which I definitely agree with.

More than the conflicts of the siblings and the clashing of personalities, I think what makes this movie stand out is that everyone has the same goal but different ways of dealing with it. And adding the fact that the characters have built resentment toward each other, this has also become an additional struggles on them.

CHARACTERS:

I appreciate how the main characters were chosen for this film. They might seem an unlikely bunch at first because I think this is the first time they worked with each other except Piolo and Maricel, who already starred in the movie Mila where they played as lovers.

Piolo Pascual (Tupe Facundo)

Knowing Piolo from his past works, his unquestionable talent when it comes to acting was no different in this one. Playing as Tupe Facundo, the eldest in the family, I saw how “subdued” his approach was. He is not authoritative; as much as possible he doesn’t want to assert his role because he knows he is also going through some struggles. As an actor, Piolo could have deliver the role with a sense of entitlement, but he played it as someone who has reservations yet still has that innate instinct to be responsible when bad things happen.

Joshua Garcia (Brad Facundo)

Just to get this out of the way, throughout the film I really couldn’t help but see John Lloyd Cruz in him. The mannerisms, the behavior, the eye contact, everything reminds me of JLC, which is a really good compliment.

Throughout the years, I have witnessed how Joshua's talent in acting improved. From the first movie I watched of him, Love You to the Stars and Back" opposite Julia Barretto, Joshua became one of the most dependable actors of this generation.

His performance here can be considered another feather on his cap. Joshua as Brad Facundo was believable. Just by looking at his eyes, you can sense right away that his character went through so much even before he laid it out to the audience, and that alone is a testament to his talent as an actor.

Juan Karlos (Leo Facundo)

If there's someone who I think needed to exert more effort, that would be JK or Juan Karlos. Being in a project with the industry's greats, I just can't imagine his nerves and preparation while doing the film. As I left the cinema, I'm happy to say that he portrayed the role successfully. For me, he was able to volley with his co-actors. As Leo, he responded well to the scenes and remained present even if the camera was not on him. He may be known as a singer, but expanding his résumé to include acting is not bad at all.

Belle Mariano (Geri Ann Facundo)

Among the main characters of the film, Belle Mariano would be the actor I had no prior reference. I haven't watched any of her past works; thus, seeing her in this film was a good opportunity to see how well she could deliver. And I must say, she really did deliver. Her performance was believable because whenever I see her on screen, she reminds me of how Gen-Z behaves and react in real life. So in that sense, I can say that Belle did the job. But to be honest, I know that Belle can still do better. I may not able to pinpoint the exact scene, but overall, I know Belle can give more depth to a character as the years goes by.

Maricel Soriano (Baby Facundo)

I mean, is there anything more to say about THE Maricel Soriano aside from being one of the industry's legends? Maricel delivered exceptionally well here. For me, her portrayal here as Baby Facundo is somewhat closer to most mothers I envision. She listens to her children, values their opinions, and loves them as much as she can. She was able to share the spotlight with the other actors, which makes me conclude that this movie is not just a Maricel Soriano film but a film built on teamwork and respect. And even though she is the “main star,” I appreciate how the narrative of the film is not solely focused on her; it is actually leaning more on the siblings and their journey towards acceptance.

CINEMATOGRAPHY:

The first few scenes of the movie were fantastic! I love how they were able to execute the experiences of Baby Facundo without it being cringey. It felt similar to the vision sequences shown in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. For me, it was well done, and as a viewer, I was able to grasp the entire backstory of her character by just using the word “Mama.”

The locations they chose for the film were great, and I think that’s what Star Cinema films are known for. They make sure the setting is integrated into the whole film. Examples of these are the wide shots, crisp texture of the visuals, and the spacious feeling whenever the characters are moving in the scenes

TECHNICAL:

I don’t have any notes when it comes to the technical aspects of the film. However, there is a scene where a '"double" replaced Maricel. I may have caught it right away, but it didn't affect my experience in watching the film overall.

"Kumpas" by Moira Dela Torre was used as the movie's OST, which surprised me. It was previously used in KatNiel's romcom series 2 Good 2 Be True, so hearing it here caught me off guard. I actually looked up the lyrics and confirmed that the lyrics may also apply to any forms of relationship, so I think it’s fine.

CRITICISMS:

I believe the movie is already a solid watch for me, but if I had things I wanted to mentioned, here are a couple:

In the movie, Maricel was portrayed as a K-drama fangirl. The film might able to laid it out to the audience was expressed it verbally, but I think it wasn't enough. I wish the art department or whoever was in charge could put up more photos/memorabilia of the K-pop idol Maricel is gushing over, just to further emphasize her fascination.

I also wish they utilized Juan Karlos more. It's good that they used him as the funny guy of the group, but to be honest, there were slight moments where I felt he was over the top. I think this could have been avoided if they were able to explore the depth of his character and not rely solely on comedic relief.

LESSON:

Death was inevitable, and the film was clever in making that clear. But I think the real lesson is about how someone learns to accept that truth. We all have our own dreams to chase and goals to accomplish, and many people spend much of their lives wondering why they ended up where they are. Yet when someone in the family reaches the end of their journey, the film urges us to reflect on what truly matters.

CONCLUSION:

Meet, Greet and Bye is one of those family movies that made me cry twice, and I'm not sure when was the last time I cried in a family movie, and that says something.

In my opinion, this movie can easily be included in this year's Metro Manila Film Festival. With its unlikely combination of actors and actresses, you really aren't sure what to expect at first, but as someone who already watched it, I can confidently say that it is worth your time and money.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtou4LuxFrg