‘Ex Ex Lovers’ REVIEW: For Marvin, Jolina, and those who grew up watching them
‘Ex Ex Lovers’ REVIEW: For Marvin, Jolina, and those who grew up watching them
Marvin Agustin as Ced and Jolina Magdangal as Joy in Ex Ex Lovers | Photo taken from the film’s official trailer on YouTube
My introduction to Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal (known as MarJo) was in my childhood, curled up on my grandparents’ sofa watching Filipino films on Cinema One on an old CRT television. I've always been drawn to their dynamic: a perfect mix of playful banter and natural chemistry that is so uniquely them. Watching their reunion movie, Ex-Ex Lovers, in the cinema feels like reliving a core memory — almost as if I were back on the same sofa, watching the same MarJo, and wearing the same uncontrollable smile they etched into my memories.
Ex-Ex Lovers builds on nostalgia at every level, from its marketing and Hey Babe!–style romantic comedy to its rich '90s references (character names, iconic lines, Tameme, Gimik barkada cameos, etc.). Directed by JP Habac and co-written by Antoinette Jadaone, both evident fans of Marvin and Jolina’s past works and known for their nuanced take on gender struggles, the film is a fun and nostalgic trip down memory lane while also carving a new yet equally sentimental path for Filipino romantic comedy films.
Joey (JK Labajo) proposes to SC (Loisa Andalio), surprising Joy (Magdangal) | Photo taken from the Project 8 Projects YouTube channel.
The film opens with a classic '90s romantic comedy feel, following Joy’s (Magdangal) comical reactions as her world is suddenly turned upside down. On Valentine’s night, she eagerly awaits a date with her daughter, SC (Loisa Andalio), only for SC to arrive with Joey (JK Labajo), who unexpectedly proposes — much to Joy’s shock. Still reeling from the surprise, SC complicates things further by asking Joy to find her estranged father, Ced (Agustin), so he can walk her down the aisle. Despite her growing frustration, Joy can't bring herself to say no to her daughter.
After years apart, Joy and Ced cross paths again in Malta, with her holding onto resentment while he longs for a second chance. We see Agustin as the improved ex-husband trying his best to win her heart with his goofiness, while Magdangal plays the annoyed and skeptical woman determined to resist his antics. Just like the film, Ced also relies on nostalgia, and Jolina, much like the viewers, finds herself gradually falling for it. It's a setup that is all too familiar to MarJo.
Ced (Marvin Agustin) and Joy (Jolina Magdangal) in Malta | Photo taken from the film’s official trailer on YouTube
The thing about MarJo, which many other love teams lack, is that both actors can genuinely deliver comedy. Their pairing guarantees a true romantic comedy experience that never falls short on laughs or romance. Watching them deliver once again in this film and finally seeing it on the big screen is an absolute delight. I'm just so glad the creators truly understood the assignment.
In the third act, the film shifts away from nostalgia and focuses on the present, pulling us back to reality after we've been swept up in the haze of the past. But here’s the thing, while I truly appreciate a rom-com tackling a serious issue like divorce, this theme ultimately feels like it takes a backseat to nostalgia.
Instead of feeling moved by the speech in the dinner scene, there’s an undeniable sense that something is missing, something that could make the message hit harder. Providing more material on Joy’s perspective could have addressed this gap.
One more thing: I hope the film took more time to reflect on how even nostalgia cannot fix a marriage, considering it spent more time reminiscing than on why Joy and Ced didn't work as a couple. This would have made the film’s commentary on divorce more fitting, especially since one of the common anti-divorce arguments is that couples should simply revisit their good memories to rekindle love and affection for each other.
The text 'Para Kay Marvin at Jolina' appears in the end credits of the film | Photo taken from JP Habac’s Instagram account.
Although the film falls a little short in that aspect, it still delivers important points on the need for a divorce law in the country: a woman had to endure decades of suffering just to leave a relationship that had already caused her so much pain, marriage doesn’t have to reach the point of physical or extreme abuse to warrant divorce, and ending a marriage can open the door for both individuals to build healthier, more meaningful relationships.
But at the end of the day, I believe Ex Ex Lovers is a warm tribute made for Marvin, Jolina, and those who grew up watching them. It is a film that feels like reliving something familiar and deeply cherished, but with a sense of responsibility and maturity.
Ex Ex Lovers is still showing in select cinemas.
