I'm Drunk, I Love You

''I'm Drunk, I Love You'' is a 2017 Filipino romantic comedy independent film directed by JP Habac, and written by Habac and Giancarlo Abrahan. It stars Maja Salvador and Paulo Avelino, who previously worked together in the 2015 television soap opera '' Bridges of Love''; the film serves as their second project together. The film tells the story of two best friends, Carson (Salvador) and Dio (Avelino), and the former's seven-year-long unrequited love for the latter.

The film, whose title is commonly abbreviated as "IDILY", was released in the Philippines on February 15, 2017.

Plot

Carson and Dio have been best friends throughout college. Unbeknownst to Dio, Carson has secretly harbored romantic feelings for him for seven years. With their graduation approaching, Dio invites Carson on a spontaneous road trip to La Union. They are joined by Carson's close friend Jason Ty, who provides comic relief and moral support to her.

During the trip, Dio reveals that he has reconciled with his ex-girlfriend, Pathy, dampening Carson's hopes of ever confessing her feelings. Despite this, she continues to act as his supportive best friend. As they spend time drinking, bonding, and reminiscing about their college years, Carson struggles with whether she should finally reveal her emotions.

Eventually, Carson tells Dio that she has been in love with him for years. Dio, while acknowledging their close friendship, explains that he does not feel the same way, but the two kiss. Afterward, the group continues their trip, but the atmosphere between Carson and Dio changes.

Meanwhile, Jason meets a man through a dating app and later discovers that he is in a relationship. The man and his boyfriend invite Jason to a threesome. The next morning, Jason decides to stay behind in La Union, while Carson, Dio, and Pathy return to Manila.

After their graduation, Carson and Dio meet privately. They acknowledge the importance of their friendship and reflect on the experiences they have shared. Carson, having come to terms with Dio's feelings, chooses to move forward with her life.

Cast

* Maja Salvador as Caridad Sonia "Carson" Herrera
* Paulo Avelino as Dionysus "Dio" Brillo
* Dominic Roco as Jason Ty
* Jasmine Curtis-Smith as Pathy
* Irma Adlawan as Carson's mother
* Jim Paredes as Dio's father

Production

Development

Director JP Habac conceived the idea for the film by citing his nightly drinking sessions he had had with his friends. He stated in Filipino: ''"Alam mo na yan, inuman tapos may kaibigan kang masyadong nalasing, tapos sinigaw niya yung mga salitang yan'' (You know what it is, drinking and there is that friend who gets intoxicated, and then he shouts those words)." Additionally, he stated: ''"Gusto ko talaga magpakita ng sine na totoo at yung mapapaisip ka. Marami na tayong mga cute na pelikula. I wanted to make a film that would challenge and break RomCom norms''. (I truly wanted to show true cinema and one that makes you think thoroughly. We have gotten many cute films. I wanted to make a film that would challenge and break RomCom norms.)"

After two years of conceptualizing these ideas, Habac tapped Giancarlo Abrahan to write the script together.

Casting

Habac said that during the casting call for the character of Jason, he noted that actors auditioning for the role should come across as someone similar to George, one of the lead characters played by English actor Rupert Everett in the 1997 romantic comedy film ''My Best Friend's Wedding''. The role later went to Dominic Roco.

Themes

''I'm Drunk, I Love You'' is described as a film about unrequited love, using the consumption of alcohol as plot device.

Soundtrack

Having been a fan of musical films (such as ''Once'' and '' Begin Again'') and musicals in general, director JP Habac was inspired to include a soundtrack for the film, featuring OPM tracks. In the film, lead stars Maja Salvador and Paulo Avelino performed covers of OPM songs, such as a duet for songs "Maniwala Ka Sana" by Parokya ni Edgar and "Hanggang Dito Na Lang" by Jimmy Bondoc. The soundtrack also features OPM songs by various artists.

Release

''I'm Drunk, I Love You'' was released in the Philippines on February 15, 2017, by Solar Entertainment Corporation.

On February 13, the film's star and co-producer Paulo Avelino express dismayed due to the film's limited release, in 60 theaters across the country. He complained on a Twitter post by saying "Just 60 cinemas for I’m Drunk I Love You? I strongly believe this film is worth more." On a separate tweet the same day, he complained before the MTRCB (particularly its board member Mocha Uson) posing this question in Filipino, "''Bakit nga ba hindi inuuna ng mga lokal na sinehan ang mga Pelikupang icPilipino kesa sa Dayuhang Pelikula? Gawin sanang Batas'' (Why don't local cinemas prioritize Filipino Films than Foreign Films? Hopefully, it would become a law.)" The film's production companies TBA (Tuko, Buchi Boy and Artikulo Uno), announced on February 15 that the number of theaters had been narrowed down to 33 theaters, at which time the film would be theatrically released.

On February 22, Avelino directed criticisms toward local cinemas and the Film Development Council of the Philippines helmed by chairperson Liza Diño, at which time the film will be pulled out from cinemas. One of his tweets to Diño read:

Diño responded to Avelino hours later, saying in part that "Fdcp is working with stakeholders." Maja Salvador would later join Avelino in defending the film from being pulled out from theaters. Netizens who are supportive of the film also promoted the hashtag "#SaveIDILY".

Critical reception

The film was met with positive reactions from critics. Oggs Cruz of Rappler described the film as "more than just a love story", and said: " e film is an ode to intoxication, whether with alcohol or silly emotions. It celebrates the pleasures of the present, while poking fun at the idiocies of the past and worrying about the future." Mari-an Santos of Philippine Entertainment Portal praised Salvador and Avelino's chemistry onscreen, and said: "The movie is a trip. A beautiful, colorful one that, if you are willing to strap yourself up for the ride, you will enjoy anyway." Blogger Louie Baharom of ''Live Love Cinema'' gave 4/5, and described it as " emotionally sincere wake-up call to the millennials and everybody else who get blinded by affections; a cheery celebration of one’s own youth and the idea of it being something that just bursts like a bubble – all kept at a steady pace that pinches the heart, ignites the soul, and gets us to appreciate and savor every passing second as in life." Philbert Dy of ''The Neighborhood'' said, " he film exudes a yearning for the carefree days of being young and drunk and in love, all the while acknowledging how that could never last."

Sequel

On October 17, 2018, director JP Habac confirmed that a sequel is in the works and that he was still in the process of finishing the script.

Awards and recognitions

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:I Love You, I Am Drunk
2017 films
2017 romantic comedy films
Philippine independent films
Philippine romantic comedy films
2010s Tagalog-language films
Philippine New Wave
2017 independent films
2010s English-language films
TBA Studios films
English-language independent films
English-language romantic comedy films