"Tayo Sa Huling Buwan ng Taon" Movie Review - A Sequel that Begs the Why-Do-We-Need-This Question

Past lovers meet at a time where both of them have moved on and has started their lives anew, rekindling an old flame and realizing that there's still a lot of heavy baggage left for them to unload.

Tayo Sa Huling Buwan ng Taon
- Photo from IMDb

Instead of taking us to the journey of building a budding relationship, Nestor Abrogena Jr.'s Ang Kwento Nating Dalawa in 2015 took an unconventional way of telling a story by presenting a couple on the brink of a breakup, struggling to make something out of their already moot relationship.

It was then that the audiences were introduced to its talented actors: Nicco Manalo as Sam, who's already making a name in the theatrical stage, and Emmanuel Vera as Isa who has found an inclination in making music.

Flawed Relationships

While the first film was commendable for its deconstructed storytelling and elevated camera work, thanks to Abrogena Jr.'s technical directorial prowess, I also found the film quite forgettable largely because of the lack of hook factor and a striking moment besides probably the semi-gawky reveal at the end. Although in its defense, I was pleased that it felt new at the time and doesn't feel like the same old feel good rom-com shticks that flood the mainstream media.

Four years later, Abrogena Jr.'s sequel, Tayo sa Huling Buwan ng Taon, continues the distressing tale of Sam and Isa who, 5 years after the breakup, has since found their separate paths, establishing a new life with their new partners.

Nicco Manalo and Emmanuelle Vera - Tayo sa Huling Buwan ng Taon
- Photo from Journal-Online

First things first, Abrogena Jr.'s Tayo digs deeper into the flawed relationships of these characters, offering a more emotional innervation on top of a more realistic narrative. I liked that the characters have real conversations that made sense. I also liked that the first half of the film spends its time as a quick refresher, letting the audience know what happened to Sam and Isa during those 5 years and was also a good introduction to their new partners, Anna (Anna Luna) and Frank (Alex Medina).

The cinematography is great and some scenes were shot in a single take, much like the prequel, elevating the overall quality of the movie. There's also good music in this despite it being too on the nose especially during an Urbandub cameo.

This film also has a very indie type of feel to it and I don't mind it being that way because truth be told, most of the indie films are better than the mainstream ones.

With all of these impressive qualities, I still find the film quite lackluster. And by no means it's bad, but I thought this sequel is just scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to its story. Just like in the first movie, Sam is still the same person who hasn't had any solid dreams for himself and is always sacrificing his personal happiness in favor of his partner's goals. Isa on the other hand feels very much the same only this time a lot emptier and only served as a plot device to Frank's story.

There was a memorable confrontation of buried feelings at the third act and I thought both Manalo and Vera executed the scene very well and was a satisfying moment for their characters to release such emotional burden.

Maybe it's just me but I expected this sequel to be more about Sam and Isa's relationship and their growth as a character, or you know, just give enough reasons as to why we should still give a damn about these two people.

Let's Be Reel

Despite Abrogena Jr.'s efforts, I don't think that this sequel is fully justified. It offered very little character development for the two lead characters and at times feels like a movie that was not about them but about other people, serving only as a plot device rather than the main hero.

For a movie that explores the lives of people struggling to find their footing, suddenly the film feels like it's the product of bad decisions.

Tayo Sa Huling Buwan ng Taon is mediocre at best.

6/10

Reel Points

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