At around two hours long, "When I Met You in Tokyo" needed to trim its runtime significantly. The biggest blunder for the film was that it simply ran out of material around the 90-minute mark, with all major and side conflicts resolved in one big swoop. The back end of this film was a struggle to watch as there was nothing left to grasp onto. Despite this major setback, the film had great chemistry between its leads, Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon, which added a lot of romantic excitement for the audience.
Azon (Vilma Santos) has dedicated much of her adult life to supporting her family back in the Philippines. As she has grown older, she has decided that finding her soulmate won't happen for her. However, when she meets another Filipino in Tokyo named Joey (Christopher de Leon), who has his own dark past involving relationships, the two start a budding relationship late in their lives, deciding to prioritize their happiness once again.
Sometimes, simplicity is better, and this could have been the mantra for "When I Met You in Tokyo" when refining its story. The film tried to do too much but didn't have the execution to pull it off. For example, there are subplots involving Azon's niece and brother back in the Philippines and Joey's trauma from his ex-wife. While these elements were included to add depth, they were hastily developed, sometimes resolving important issues in just two scenes. These subplots could have had more impact or been removed altogether, as they came off as ineffective. Similarly, the film lost steam in its second half as it ran out of issues to resolve. There are minor quibbles between Joey and Azon, but nothing that could sustain interest after the wedding scene. Despite its flawed writing, the highlight and saving grace of "When I Met You in Tokyo" was the pairing of Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon. Their natural chemistry brought excitement to their scenes, proving that even with their age, they could still captivate the audience.
When I Met You in Tokyo Movie Review: Blundered Executions
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