Un/Happy For You (2024) Movie Review: Where to Watch Online
Directed by: Petersen Vargas
The much-anticipated film “Un/Happy For You” (2024) marks the return of one of the Philippines’ most beloved on-screen pairs, Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia, popularly known as JoshLia. Their reunion in this film is nothing short of magical, stirring up the same chemistry that made them household names. Directed by Petersen Vargas, the movie dives deep into the complexities of love, heartbreak, and the difficult process of moving on, leaving audiences with a mix of emotions.
A Heartfelt Story with Genuine Performances
The film opens with scenes that instantly captivate the audience, rekindling the charm of the JoshLia tandem. The pacing is carefully crafted to allow viewers to fall in love with the characters all over again. The scoring complements the film’s narrative, enhancing the emotional journey that the characters—and by extension, the audience—go through.
However, the story doesn’t shy away from the painful realities of relationships. What begins as seemingly empty dialogue slowly evolves into weighty exchanges as the characters’ layers are peeled back. The more the audience learns about Juancho and Zy, the more their pain resonates. In this way, the film skillfully illustrates that in every relationship, there are always two sides to the story.
The Emotional Peak and Powerful Performances
The film reaches its emotional peak when the two main characters confront the single truth that has haunted them both. It is in this confrontation that the film delivers its most powerful message: truth hurts. Yet, it’s in this pain that the characters—and the audience—find a sense of closure.
Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia deliver their most compelling performances to date. They seamlessly transition from light-hearted, playful scenes to serious, intense moments of confrontation. Their chemistry is palpable, making both the highs and lows of their relationship believable and emotionally impactful.
A Mix of Food, Life, and Unused Potential
The film creatively uses food as a metaphor for life, particularly in its dialogue. At times, this approach feels natural and adds depth to the characters’ conversations. However, there are moments when the metaphor feels forced, as if the dialogue was written to fit the theme rather than the situation.
One of the film’s shortcomings is the underutilization of its supporting characters. The roles of friends and family, who could have provided additional emotional depth and context, are limited to delivering quotable lines rather than contributing to the narrative’s development. These interactions could have enriched the film’s portrayal of the central relationship, but instead, they fall flat.
Fan Service vs. Narrative Necessity
There are scenes in the film that seem to exist solely for fan service, rather than to advance the story. While these moments might please long-time fans of JoshLia, they detract from the film’s overall narrative cohesion. This choice ultimately impacts the story’s pacing, with some critical scenes feeling rushed and lacking the emotional payoff they should have delivered.
The process of moving on, which is central to the film’s story, is unfortunately cut short. The characters’ healing journey is compressed into a brief, somewhat unconvincing pep talk, leaving the ending feeling forced and unearned. It’s as if the characters are compelled to deliver certain lines and emotions just to tie the narrative back to the movie’s title, rather than because of genuine character development.
Final Verdict
By the film’s conclusion, audiences may find themselves unhappy with certain aspects of the script but still appreciative of the performances. The heartfelt scenes between Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia are enough to make “Un/Happy For You” a decent comeback for the duo and a fitting tribute to their on-screen partnership.
Where to Watch “Un/Happy For You” Online
As of now, “Un/Happy For You” is available for streaming on several platforms. In the United States, the movie can be rented or purchased through popular streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Apple TV. Additionally, it’s expected to be available on iWantTFC, and Netflix in the coming weeks, making it accessible to a broader audience.
Stay tuned for updates as more streaming options become available, ensuring that wherever you are, you won’t miss out on this emotional rollercoaster of a film.
