She's Dating the Gangster

She's Dating the Gangster

Theatrical movie poster
Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina[1]
Produced by
Written by
  • Carmi Raymundo
  • Charlene Grace Bernardo
  • Bianca Bernardino[1]
    (novel)
Based on She's Dating the Gangster 
by Bianca Bernardino[2][3]
Starring
Cinematography Dan Villages
Edited by Marya Ignacio
Production
company
Distributed by Star Cinema
Release dates
  • July 16, 2014 (2014-07-16)[4]
Running time
 113 minutes
Country Philippines
Language
  • English
  • Filipino
Box office Domestic:
PHP 296 million[5]

She's Dating the Gangster is a 2014 Filipino teen romantic comedy-drama film based on the best Pop Fiction book of the same name originally published on CandyMag.com's Teen Talk section[6] and it was popularized on Wattpad[7] by Bianca Bernardino (pen name: SGwannaB).[2][3] The film is directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. It will be distributed by Star Cinema with co-production of Summit Media and was released on July 16, 2014 in theatres nationwide as part of its 20th anniversary presentation.[8][9][10][11]

Plot

In 2014, Kenji Delos Reyes delivers a speech during the wedding of Kirby and Grace. However, Kenneth, Kenji’s son, makes out with a girl in a bathroom stall. The stall opens as the girl’s grandfather enters and chaos then ensues as he chases Kenneth to the reception hall. This causes a scene and a confrontation between Kenji and Kenneth. Kenji then asks Kenneth to be mature and asks him what the problem is, to which the latter says that he doesn’t want to be with him but has no choice. Kenji asks his son what caused him to feel this way, and he answers that he knows about the other Athena. Disappointed, Kenji says that Kenneth has no idea how much he loves him and his mother. The morning after a drinking spree, a hungover Kenneth finds out the plane that would take his father to Bicol has crashed. He rushes to the airport to see the list of survivors. There, he meets Kelay who also wants to see the list. Since the place is crowded, Kelay could not pass through. She then causes a scene so that they would let her see it. She fakes crying and begins shouting that she does not want her father dead. Members of the media approach her and ask what her father’s name is, to which she answers Kenji delos Reyes. Hearing this, Kenneth confronts her and says that he is the only offspring of Kenji. Kenneth then tells the media that he’s the legal son and he can show his birth certificate to prove this. Kelay, on the other hand, has Kenji’s picture. Confirming that the girl on the picture is not his mother, Kenneth is asked by the airline officer for his contact details while Kelay is shunned. Kenneth confronts her to ask who the girl on the picture is, and Kelay bargains that she would tell Kenneth once he agrees to tell her at once when the airline contacts him for information regarding Kenji. However, all the flights to Legazpi are booked. He has no choice but to take the bus but since it's Holy Week, all tickets have been sold. Kenneth sleeps at the bus station, hoping to get a ticket as a chance passenger, yet he oversleeps. Fortunately, Kelay went to the same bus station and bought tickets for the two of them.

On the way to Legazpi, Kelay, Athena’s niece, tells the tale of young Athena and Kenji which dates back to 1994, a "gangster" whom everyone was afraid of. He is broken hearted over Athena Abigail Tizon. Wanting to get back together with her, he mistakenly sends his messages of despair to Athena Dizon’s pager. Athena, not knowing who the messages are from, agrees to meet up with the sender. On a pool hall, Athena and her friend Sarah are keen on playing pool. Kenji arrives and demands that they transfer to another pool table. Athena fights back but Kenji wins and claims his spot. An angry Athena then watches Kenji being bullied by, yet refusing to fight back to, a rival group of gangsters. They tease him that "Bee" would not show up. Hearing this, Athena realizes that the messages were sent by Kenji. She watches with pity as Kenji gets mugged. He finds out about his messages for Abi and confronts Athena. To her surprise, he kisses her forcefully and tells her that from then on, she will be his girlfriend as she owes Kenji for causing him to get mugged. Athena has to pretend to be his girlfriend in order to get Abi jealous. At first, Athena refuses and Kenji bullies her. Athena eventually gives in when Kenji attempts to commit suicide by jumping from the school's rooftop if she does not accept. The next day at school, Athena is treated like a princess with Kenji providing her bodyguards. Jealous, some girls at the school start bullying her. Kenji confronts them and says that no one hurts his girlfriend. Their pretend relationship eventually becomes real and the two confess their love for each other. Kenji takes Athena Dizon to Legazpi to see the Mayon Volcano and promises that someday they will get married in that place with the volcano as their witness. When they come back to Manila, however, Kenji begins to absent himself from class. Athena then gets an invite from young Lucas to go see Kenji who is in the hospital. Worried, Athena hurries and finds Abi lying in the hospital bed. Abi has stage three gastric cancer and was the reason why she broke up with Kenji. Wanting Abi to be happy and live longer, Athena breaks up with him. Kenji and Abi get married and Abi gives birth to Kenneth.

Back then 20 years later while searching for Kenji in Legazpi, Kenneth receives a call from present day Lucas and he helps in looking for Kenji. On their way, Kelay receives a call from her family informing her of Athena’s health condition and that she is dying. Kelay and Kenneth part ways with Kenneth promising that Athena and Kenji would meet once he finds him. Kenneth finds the hospital where Kenji is confined and reads his letter to him. In the letter, Kenji tells him that he was on his way to Legazpi to say goodbye to his memories with Athena and apologizes for making Kenneth feel that way. When Kenji wakes up, the two hug and reconcile. When Kenji is well, Kenneth takes him to Athena’s house. Athena tells Kenji about her disease for the first time and tells him that his love kept her alive through those years. She says she is happy for Kenji and dies in his arms. Kelay wakes up to a phone call telling her that a flight has gone missing again and Kenneth was on that flight. When she goes to look for him she makes a scene again, telling the media her 'boyfriend' is missing. Kenneth witnesses Kelay and it's revealed that it was actually Kenji who called her. Kenneth asks Kelay if they can have a great love story like his dad and Kelay's aunt had and almost kiss as the screen cuts to black.

Cast

Main cast

Supporting cast

Special participation

Cameo

International screening

Due to the film's huge success, it was screened internationally in selected countries like United States, Canada, Australia, and United Arab Emirates.[13] The film grossed $222,000 after 3 days of showing in North America[14] and $111,000 more after 10 days for a total of $333,000.[15] The total gross, from the 2-week US and 3-week Canada screenings as well as the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore screenings, is yet to be determined.

Reception

Critical response

She's Dating the Gangster received largely positive reviews both from critics and fans. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds 70% audience rating.[16]

Philbert Ortiz-Dy of Click the City gave a positive review in the film, stating that She's Dating the Gangster is at its best when it allows kids to be kids. Its portrayal of young, intensely romantic love is really charming, especially placed as it is in this wacky conception of its period setting.[17] He also stated that "The narrative just can't support this pathos. The film begins to apply fantasy logic to really serious topics. [...] This kind of magical thinking just doesn’t mesh well with the real medical terms that the film just trots out."[17]

Box office

According to Star Cinema's advertising manager Mico del Rosario, the film gathered ₱15 million (US$340,000) on its first day of showing.[18] This was in spite of a powerful typhoon, Glenda, that hit the country that day that caused power outages across the country and delayed the opening of mall cinemas.[19] By August 7, 2014, the film grossed over ₱260 million.[20] The final box office of the film is ₱296 million.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Blinkremz (May 9, 2014). "She’s Dating The Gangster Casts Revealed (List)". Philippine News. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "She’s Dating the Gangster shoots to the top of local bestseller lists!". Summit Media. May 22, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Sancon, Allan (January 29, 2014). "Kathryn Bernardo and Jethro Capariño to topbill movie version of the book She’s Dating the Gangster". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  4. ↑ "What is '71614?'". ABS-CBN. Star Cinema. May 9, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Belmonte, Maureen Marie (26 April 2016). "Celebrating a Teen King: Five reasons Daniel Padilla is king". Push (in English and Filipino) (ABS-CBN). Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "She's Dating The Gangster (COMPLETED)". CandyMag.com. Summit Publishing Co., Inc. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  7. ↑ "She's Dating the Gangster". Wattpad. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  8. ↑ "KathNiel to star in film version of 'She's Dating the Gangster'". Rappler. January 30, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  9. ↑ "First look: Daniel, Kathryn in 'She's Dating the Gangster'". ABS-CBN News. June 21, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  10. ↑ "VIDEO: She's Dating The Gangster Full Trailer". ABS-CBN. July 3, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  11. ↑ "WATCH: Kathryn, Daniel in 'She's Dating The Gangster' teaser". ABS-CBN News. June 28, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Dark Angel (July 2, 2014). "Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta to Join KathNiel’s "She’s Dating The Gangster"". Philippine News. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  13. ↑ "International Screening and Venues of She's Dating the Gangster". Star Cinema. ABS-CBN. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  14. ↑ "MCN: The Weekend Report July 27, 2014". Leonard Klady. Movie City News. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  15. ↑ "MCN: The Weekend Report August 3, 2014". Leonard Klady. Movie City News. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  16. ↑ "She's Dating the Gangster (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  17. 1 2 Philber Ortiz-Dy (July 18, 2014). "She's Dating the Gangster Works Best When It Embraces Its Silliness". Click the City. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  18. ↑ Djdrea (July 17, 2014). "KathNiel’s "She’s Dating the Gangster" Earns P15M on First Day". Philippine News. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  19. ↑ "KathNiel movie 'She's Dating the Gangster' earns P15 million on first day". Rappler. July 17, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  20. ↑ "‘She’s Dating The Gangster’ surpasses P260 M mark". Rowena Tan. Manila Bulletin. August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.

External links

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