The sunflower is a major element in a pivotal scene in the post-Valentine big-screen offering ‘Everything About My Wife’. But there is another sunflower in the movie that made us smile and cackle to be more specific. It is the sunflower and the sunshine that is Jennylyn Mercado.
In her true rom-com element, the same genre that brought her back-to-back Best Actress wins at the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) in 2014 for ‘English Only Please’ opposite Derek Ramsay, and in 2025 for ‘Walang Forever’ with Jericho Rosales, she made the first half of ‘Everything About My Wife’ fun and entertaining with her hilarious charm.
Portraying the nagging Imogen Karuhatan (Why do I feel like this name fits her even in real life?), Jennylyn helps the audience traverse through the intricacies of a challenged marriage, its ups and downs, with her animated and boisterous monologues in full display. Her funny moments drew the most reactions from premiere night viewers. Well, apart of course from the sunflower scene which I’ll enjoy the honor of withholding more details for your viewing pleasure in cinemas.
Jennylyn is at home in this genre. And more so at home with her real-life partner by her side, Dennis Trillo, who portrays her husband Dom. This setup ads up to the film’s charm, providing us a visual of how the Mercado -Trillo household could look like in reality.
An award-winning actor himself, the MMFF 2024 Best Actor generously gives the acting limelight to his wife. Although it would be hard to miss a very attractive Dennis Trillo, right? For some reasons I cannot pinpoint, he is more attractive here than how guwapo he already is in his other screen appearances.
Sam Milby, a vision himself, adds to the cast’s great chemistry. Sam and Jen looked good 10 years ago in Regal Entertainment’s ‘The Prenup’. They still look good now, albeit portraying different roles.
Although there are slow moments, and even if the movie misses to magnify the story’s resolve, Jennylyn Mercado’s happy presence makes ‘Everything About My Wife’ a worthy Valentine’s month closing film. It is now showing in more than 200 cinemas nationwide.
*Photos are from the premiere night held at the SM Megamall Cinemas on February 25.