She's Dating the Gangster

She's Dating the Gangster
Theatrical movie poster
Directed by	Cathy Garcia-Molina
Written by	Carmi Raymundo Charlene Grace Bernardo Bianca Bernardino (novel)
Produced by	Malou Santos Charo Santos-Concio
Starring	Kathryn Bernardo Daniel Padilla
Edited by	Marya Ignacio
Production companies	Star Cinema Summit Media
Distributed by	Star Cinema
Release date	July 16, 2014 (2014-07-16)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	Philippines
Languages	English Filipino
Box office	PHP 260 million (estimated - as of August 8, 2014)

She's Dating the Gangster is a 2014 Filipino teen romantic comedy-drama film based on the best-selling novel of the same name originally published on Wattpad by Bianca Bernardino. The film is directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, starring Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. It will be distributed by Star Cinema with co-production of Summit Media and was released on July 16, 2014 in theatres nationwide as part of its 20th anniversary presentation.

Plot

The story revolves around Athena Dizon, a 17-year-old student, and Kenji Delos Reyes, a rebellious teenager who is reputed to be a member of a local school Sindikato gang. They begin a false romance in order to spite Kenji's ex-girlfriend, and Athena thinks everything will be fine. She slowly realises that her life is not as steady, as her relationship with Kenji inevitably transforms into something greater.

The film opens with Kenji (Gomez) delivering a speech, saying how when he was younger, he thought love was the most powerful thing. As he grew older, however, he found out that time was the most powerful thing and that timing is such a bitch. Fortunately, he said, Kirby (Muhlach) waited for the perfect time for Grace (Aguila) and now, they are getting married. The scene then cuts to Kenneth (Padilla), Kenji’s son, making out in a bathroom stall with a random girl. The stall opens as the girl’s grandfather enters and chaos then ensues as the grandfather chases Kenneth to the reception hall while shouting. This causes a scene and a confrontation between Kenji and Kenneth. Kenneth said he was bored and it was no big deal. Kenji disagrees and says that Kenneth ruined Grace’s wedding. Kenji asked Kenneth to be mature as it has already been 8 years since Kenneth’s mom passed away; he has no reason for acting out. Kenji asks Kenneth what the problem is, to which the latter says that he doesn’t want to be with his father but he has no choice as his mom is already dead. Kenneth says if he would choose, he’d choose his father to die instead of his mom. Kenji asks his son what caused him to feel this way and Kenneth answers that he knows about the other Athena (Zulueta). Disappointed, Kenji says Kenneth has no idea how much he loves him and his mother.

The morning after a drinking spree, a hungover Kenneth finds out the plane that would take his father to Bicol has crashed. He rushed to the airport to see the list of survivors. There, he meets Kelay (Bernardo) who also wants to see the list of survivors. Since the place is filled with people, Kelay could not squeeze in and see the list. She then causes a scene so that people would let her see the list. She fakes crying and begins shouting that she does not want her father dead. Members of the media approached her and asked what her father’s name is, to which Kelay answered Kenji delos Reyes. Hearing this, Kenneth confronts Kelay and tells her that’s impossible as he is the only offspring of Kenji. This conflict catches the media’s attention. Kenneth tells the media that he’s the legal son and he can show his birth certificate to prove this. Kelay, on the other hand, says she has Kenji’s picture. The media men say that the boy on the picture looks like Kenneth while the girl looks like Kelay. Confirming that the girl on the picture is not his mother, Kenneth was asked by the airline officer for his contact details while Kelay is shunned. Kenneth confronts Kelay to ask who the girl on the picture is, and Kelay bargains that she would tell Kenneth what she knows once Kenneth agrees that he would tell Kelay at once when the airline contacts him for information regarding Kenji.

Kenneth is on his way to look for his father, however, all the flights to Legazpi are booked. He has no choice but to take the bus but since it's Holy Week, all tickets have been sold. Kenneth sleeps at the bus station, hoping to get a ticket as a chance passenger. He, however, oversleeps. Fortunately, Kelay went to the same bus station and bought tickets for the two of them. Kenneth makes a phone call and tells his friend over the phone that once he gets the ticket from Kelay, he would dispatch her.

On the way to Legazpi, Kelay, Athena’s niece, begins to tell the tale of Athena and Kenji. A flashback to the 90s begin where we see Kenji and Athena’s love story. It started when young Kenji (also played by Padilla), then a “gangster” who everyone was afraid of, is broken hearted over Athena Abigail Tizon (Andres). Wanting to get back together withe Abigail, Kenji mistakenly sends his messages of longing and despair to young Athena Dizon’s (also played by Bernardo) pager. Athena, not knowing who the messages were from, agreed to meet up with the sender, planning to stand him up.

On a pool hall, Athena and her friend Sarah (Pamorada) was keen on playing pool. Kenji arrives and demands that they transfer to another pool table. Athena fights back but Kenji wins, saying this is his spot. An angry Athena watches Kenji being bullied by, and refusing to fight back to, a rival group of gangsters. The rival group teases Kenji that "B" would not show up. Hearing this, Athena realized that the messages were sent by Kenji. Athena watches with pity as Kenji gets mugged by the rival gangsters. Kenji finds out about that his messages for Abi were received by Athena and that the latter caused him to wait for Abi and eventually get mugged. Kenji confronts a scared Athena. To her surprise, Kenji kisses her forcefully and tells her that from then on, she will be his girlfriend. According to Kenji, Athena owes him as Athena caused him to be mugged. Therefore, Athena has to pretend to be his girlfriend in order to get Abi jealous. At first, Athena refuses and for her refusal, Kenji bullies her. Athena eventually gives in when Kenji stood at the school's rooftop with the sign that says "ATHENA, IF YOU WILL NOT AGREE TO BE MY GIRLFRIEND, I WILL JUMP". Worried that Kenji might actually commit suicide,Athena says yes. The next day at school, Athena is treated like a princess with Kenji providing her bodyguards. Jealous over this, some girls at the school start bullying Athena. Kenji confronts the bullies and says that no one hurts his girlfriend. Kenji and Athena become closer and closer as the days go by. Their pretend relationship eventually becomes real and the two confess their love for each other. Kenji takes Athena to Legazpi to see the Mayon volcano and there promises that someday, they will get married in that place with the volcano as their witness. When they come back to Manila, however, Kenji begins to absent himself from classes without notifying Athena. Athena then gets an invite from young Lucas (Ramos) to go see Kenji who is in the hospital. Worried, Athena hurries over and finds Abi lying in the hospital bed. It turns out, Abi has stage three gastric cancer and it was the reason why she broke up with Kenji. Wanting Abi to be happy and live longer, Athena breaks up with Kenji. Kenji and Abi get married and Abi gives birth to Kenneth.

While searching for Kenji in Legazpi, Kenneth receives a call from present day Lucas (Veneracion) and tells them he knows where Kenji is and will take Kenneth and Kelay to see Kenji. Lucas also reveals to Kenneth and Kelay why Athena and Kenji didn't end up together. Kenneth realises the sacrifice Athena did so that his mother could live. On their way, Kelay receives a call from her family informing her of Athena’s deteriorating health and that Athena is dying. Kelay and Kenneth part ways with Kenneth promising that Athena and Kenji would meet once he finds Kenji.

Kenneth finds the hospital where Kenji is confined and reads the latter’s letter to him. In the letter, Kenji tells Kenneth that he was on his way to Legazpi to say good bye to his memories of Athena. He apologizes in the letter for making Kenneth feel that he did not love him. He tells Kenneth he loves him with all his heart. When Kenji wakes up, the two hug and apologize to each other.

When Kenji is well, Kenneth takes him to Athena’s house where he and Athena meet. Athena admits to Kenji about her disease for the first time and tells him that his love kept her alive after all those years. She says she is happy that Kenji grew from being a gangster, to a man, and to a father and that she is proud of him. Happy to finally see the great love of her life, Athena dies with a smile on Kenji's shoulder.

The story ends with Kenji making a call to Kelay that Kenneth is on a flight that has gone missing. Kelay rushes to the same airport where Kelay first saw Kenneth. And like before, Kelay asks for information about her friend but was ignored since relatives were the priority. Again, Kelay causes a scene and fakes crying and begins shouting that she does not want her boyfriend dead. Members of the media approached her and asked what her boyfriend’s name is, to which Kelay answered Kenneth delos Reyes. She was asked to describe Kenneth and while she was describing him in words that revealed her affection and feelings for her "boyfriend," Kenneth makes his way through the crowd and surprises Kelay. Kenji also shows up beside Kenneth and tells Kelay that he was the one who called her as Kelay realises that the whole thing was a ruse. Kelay couldn't take back what she said about Kenneth as Kenneth moves close to her and asks if they could begin their own great love story.

Cast

Main Cast

Kathryn Bernardo as young Athena Dizon / Kelai Dizon

Daniel Padilla as young Kenji Delos Reyes / Kenneth Delos Reyes

Supporting Cast

Khalil Ramos as young Lucas Lazaro

Sofia Andres as Athena Abigail Tizon

Igi Boy Flores as young Kirby Araneta

Marco Gumabao as young Stephen

Pamu Pamorada as Sara Jung

Alexander Diaz as young Jigs Bala

John Uy as young Mickey

Innah Asistio as young Grace Matic

Matutina as Nana Buding

Arnold Reyes as Gerry Dizon

Niña Dolino as Athena's stepmother

Justin Gonzales as Nathan Dizon

Kobi Vidanes as Carl Dizon

Jules Estrada as Jet

Kevin Fowler as Barry

Special Participation

Richard Gomez as present Kenji Delos Reyes Dawn Zulueta as present Athena Dizon Ian Veneracion as present Lucas Lazaro Rio Locsin as Abigail's mother Yayo Aguila as present Grace Matic William Lorenzo as present Jigs Bala Allan Paule as older Mickey Niño Muhlach as present Kirby Araneta Ramon Christopher as present Stephen

Cameo

• Pooh
• Karen Reyes
• JM De Guzman
• Joem Bascon
• Janus del Prado
• Hyubs Azarcon
• Jojit Lorenzo
• Joross Gamboa
• Ketchup Eusebio
• Dominic Roque
• Rayver Cruz

International screening

Due to the film's success, it was screened internationally in selected countries like United States, Canada, Australia, and United Arab Emirates. The film grossed $222,000 after 3 days of showing in North America and $111,000 more after 10 days for a total of $333,000. The total gross from the 2-week North American screening as well as box office sales from the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore screening is yet to be determined.

Reception

Critical response

She's Dating the Gangster received largely positive reviews both from critics and fans. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds 78% rating and an average rating score of 4.1 out of 5.

Philbert Ortiz-Dy of Click the City gave a positive review in the film, stating that She's Dating the Gangster is at its best when it allows kids to be kids. Its portrayal of young, intensely romantic love is really charming, especially placed as it is in this wacky conception of its period setting. He also stated that "The narrative just can't support this pathos. The film begins to apply fantasy logic to really serious topics. [...] This kind of magical thinking just doesn’t mesh well with the real medical terms that the film just trots out."

Box office

According to Star Cinema's advertising manager Mico del Rosario, the film gathered PHP 15 million (US$340,000) on its first day of showing. This was in spite of a powerful typhoon, Glenda, that hit the country that day that caused power outages across the country and delayed the opening of mall cinemas. By August 3, 2014, the film distributor announced that the film grossed an estimated PHP 254 Million in a little less than 3 weeks.

See also

• List of Filipino films based on Wattpad stories

External links

• Official website
• She's Dating the Gangster at IMDb
• She's Dating the Gangster at Box Office Mojo
• She's Dating the Gangster at Rotten Tomatoes