Unforgettable: Movie Review

"Unforgettable" provides all the basic elements for a great feel-good movie. Bolstered by a tried-and-true cast and simple dilemmas, the film does enough to be emotional and moving even with its short running time.

Jasmine (Sarah Geronimo) has developmental issues that make her honest and brutally blunt but also one with a very kind heart. She lives with her grandma (Gina Pareño) in Baguio who she is very close to. But when her grandma gets sick, Jasmine is left with her sister (Ara Mina) in Manila. She is bewildered to be away from her grandma until she finds a stray dog. Finding that the dog gives her hope and happiness, Jasmine tries to find a way back to Baguio and to her grandma to share her newfound blessing.

We have mixed emotions regarding "Unforgettable". On one hand, the film was a wonderful experience. The film was well-cast and well-acted. Standouts are Sarah Geronimo, Gina Pareño and Kim Molina but the rest of the supporting cast did great considering the limited material and scenes given to them. The story was simple but had an unexpected emotional and dramatic core when it needed to provide one. But the film is, in every sense of the phrase, short and sweet. And this is where the film stumbles. It foregoes the minute details. There's really no deep explanation with what happens on screen. For example, we never really find out what Jasmine's condition is. And this is the same case for all plot points - major or minor. At times, the film's narrative feels like one made for a kids-based television show where nothing bad happens and conflicts are resolved with a wave of a wand. Overall though, "Unforgettable" could have been so much more which feels like a wasted opportunity in itself. However, there's no denying that it still is one of the standouts we have seen in the local mainstream film scene recently.

Rating: 3 and a half reels





Why you should watch it:
- finally, this is not a romcom
- short and sweet with an emotional core

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- it could have added a half hour more to add more depth and brevity to the experience