Four Sisters and a Wedding

The film is Star Cinema's 1st movie offering in celebration of its 20th anniversary. The film was released in the Philippines on June 26, 2013.

Main Cast

Angel Locsin as Alexandra "Alex" Salazar, the Manila-based independent film assistant director

Bea Alonzo as Roberta "Bobbie" Salazar, the successful sophisticated New Yorker of the family

Toni Gonzaga as Theodora "Teddie" Salazar, the eldest of the sisters and an OFW in Spain

Shaina Magdayao as Gabriella "Gabby" Salazar, the well-reserved teacher

Enchong Dee as CJ "RebReb" Salazar

Supporting Cast

Angeline Quinto as Princess Bayag

Coney Reyes as Grace Salazar

Carmi Martin as Jeanette Bayag

Boboy Garovillo as Honeyboy Bayag

Sam Milby as Tristan

Janus del Prado as Frodo

Bernard Palanca as Chad

Samantha Faytaren as Trixie

Vangie Labalan

Cocoy Martinez as Victor

Studio   Star Cinema

Distributed by   Star Cinema

TFC Films (international)

Directed by        Cathy Garcia-Molina

“Four Sisters and a Wedding” earned P60 million only four days since it was released in theatres.

My Review:

A movie worthy of being featured in the MMFF! And win some awards! This was my first impression after watching Four Sisters and a Wedding. Although, I was hesitant to watch it at the beginning because the title sounds like just an improvisation of a foreign movie “Four Weddings and a Funeral”! However, I was glad I watched it then. I believe that with 2D, the sound is much better and the picture is clearer. So, here comes my review.

It was not just a “feel-good movie.” The plot of the story may be too simple: a family gathering for the wedding of the “bunso”, and the tensions that arise between the two families caused by the plan of the four sisters to sabotage the wedding, as well as the tension within the Salazar family. But I think it is this simplicity that allows moviegoers to be able to relate to the movie. I surely did, coming from a big family. Themes such as sibling rivalry, favouritism, envy, sacrifice, and insecurity as commonly experienced in a family context are tackled, whether one is aware of it or not in real life is another story. The film handles these themes with precision, albeit not as profoundly as I would like it to be. This is one of the drawbacks that I see in this movie. There was just no time to deal with them individually, I believe. It’s like halu-halo where one has to taste the different ingredients hoping that his or her favourite ingredients can be distinctly recognized. And I did taste some of my favourite ingredients, the reason why I was encouraged to write a review for this film.

I would agree to its classification as a drama-comedy movie. It does have moments of laughter and tears that would surely tickle the heart of emotional moviegoers. Even the parallel use of Country names with the street names in Manila, like Espana and New York, gives one a dose of laughter. However, acting-wise, casts like Bea Alonzo and Coney Reyes shine more brightly as drama queens, while Carmi Martin and Toni Gonzaga shine through as comediennes. I see Angeline Quinto as a bit awkward, but she is hilarious though.

On the lighter side, I noticed something on the sisters’ nicknames – they are all for male. I wonder if that was to compensate the absence of the father figure of the Salazar family! It was not clear to me why. Perhaps, with the bunso, the dream team for basketball is now complete!

Having family relationship as the hinge to which the movie gravitates is not an easy task. One could easily get lost into the bits and pieces of the details and may end up with merely information, bereft with the emotional and intelligent handling of a particular issue. What I noticed in this film is surprising. As it tries to inform the viewers of the characters’ past and present life, particularly that of the four sisters, it also consistently holds the tension between Bobbie (Bea) and Alex (Angel). One can notice it immediately upon the arrival of the three sisters (Alex from her work in Manila, Bobbie from New York, and Teddie from Spain) and as the movie progresses it becomes more apparent until it leads to that dramatic confrontation and resolve. Its ability to hold this tension and not lose it in the midst of other conflicting issues is laudable. I give credit to the director of the movie for it.

I would like to commend the good acting of the cast, both main and supporting. There may be a need to hone some acting talents (Here , I am referring to Angeline Quinto and Enchong Dee as both have potentials to improve it further), but generally, it was a dream cast for me to see because it shows some of the very promising young actors in our Philippine cinema today:

Bea Alonzo, as the silent victim of being less favourite by their mother and eventually losing her boyfriend to her sibling, delivers with intense emotion as she pours out her frustrations to her siblings and mother. Amazing how she effectively goes with her monologue, not with extreme “sobbing” which could have ruined the scene, but with clarity in words and emotion;

Toni Gonzaga effectively shifts from being hilarious to being serious (although I admit that at times I find her face still funny even if she seems so serious already!);

Angel Locsin, with her “baduy” image, still managed to show her feminine and gentle side;

Shaina Magdayao, as the “old maid” of the four sisters, creates an aura of a sacrificing daughter who sincerely cares for their mother and her siblings. However, I find her youthful face to be “too young” for an old maid; and,

Enchong Dee shines in the scene where he confronted his four sisters to stop meddling with his own decision for himself.

Other supporting casts like Sam Milby, Janus del Prado, and Bernard Palanca are also convincing and funny. Of course, the like of Carmi Martin and Coney Reyes managed to show their professionalism, natural talent, and effortless delivery of their lines, with Carmi so hilarious with her “Russian accent.”

As I said earlier, it was not just a feel-good movie for I left the theatre with that feeling (as what I had also observed with the others upon leaving the theatre). This movie also leaves you with something to reflect on – about family misunderstanding, about a sibling or a parent who work abroad (OFW) to help the family, and the loneliness he/she has to endure; confronting and accepting our own shortcomings (I also refer to this as our “demons”); the reality of sibling rivalry, and the “non-conscious” favouritism by the parents. As Filipinos, do we really tackle these issues as the characters do in the movie? Or, we uncritically live life daily as though they don’t exist at all, silently suffering from superficial relations and the “cold war?”

One good insight I see from this movie is the way family issues can be dealt with positively, without resorting to “silent treatment” and violence. Confrontation is healthy as long as there is respectful listening to one another, without judgment. Hopefully, as one leaves the theatre after watching this movie (or wherever one watches it), he/she would be encouraged to look closely at the dynamics going on in his/her own family and be committed to do his/her part to build up that family. 

One thing is certain, there is no perfect family, but it doesn’t mean that we could not perfect it with openness, non-judgmental listening, and forgiveness. This may be a struggle, but, as what the movie shows, it’s worth the struggle. And as opportunities come to face the truth, may we be given the strength to face it with both mind and heart. Yes, I would be inclined to say that in spite of its lack of depth on some important themes mentioned above, Four Sisters and a Wedding has both mind and heart! Congratulations to Star Cinema, to the casts, and to the Director Cathy Garcia-Molina.

For this movie, my rating is 3 stars!

July 16,2013
Tuesday

Watch the trailer!