Evo (Richard Gutierrez) and Grace (Marian Rivera) meet at a stag party and it's hate at first sight. “Parang naisip noong character ko talaga na I’ll never fall in love with that type of girl. Yung character naman ni [Marian] feels the same way," says Richard. While Evo is a spoiled, arrogant kid who doesn’t know what to do in life, Grace is a hard working student who finds joy in things despite her circumstances.
The movie ads for My Best Friend’s Girlfriend show Marian popping out of a giant cake – a scene from the film’s stag party. According to GMA Films president Ms. Annette Gozon, this was actually the image that sparked the idea for the plot. “Pinag-usapan lang namin na parang ang sarap panoorin na lumalabas si Marian sa cake. So [from that] picture, bumuo na kami ng kwento around it," she says.
“Actually, sumayaw ako doon [sa stag party], mapapanood nila sa movie," says Marian. “Nagulat ako – ha? Stag party? Ano suot ko doon? Akala ko syempre pag ganoon, medyo daring! Pero hindi. Alaga naman nila ako doon. Alam nila na kahit papaano, conservative pa rin dating ko."
Grace isn’t really a sexy dancer, however. She was just forced to accept that job out of need. “Grace needed some money for an emergency that’s why she took the job and danced. Maraming mangyayari sa stag party na yun na magiging memorable for both the characters," says Richard.
Marian explains, “Noong nagkasakit [kasi] yung nanay ko, parang ako na bumuhay sa kanila, tapos may kapatid akong special child. So ako laging inaasahan sa bahay." She admits that Grace’s personality is not far from her own, especially when it comes to being kalog. “Kaya ang ganda niya, ang sarap niyang i-shoot talaga!"
In the story, Evo and Grace start off as mortal enemies but when Evo uses Grace to make his girlfriend (Ehra Madrigal) jealous, things start getting complicated. “Nakilala namin yung isa’t-isa, and nagkaroon ng deeper connection," says Richard.
A first-time team up
Will the Filipino audience accept this new team-up?
Without missing a beat, Marian replies, “Matatanggap siya kasi Richard Gutierrez – sino ba namang hindi tatanggap kay Richard, di ba? Tapos sa MariMar naman, alam kong marami ring nagmamahal sa akin. Kung ano yung pagmamahal na ginagawa nila sa akin, alam ko ganoon din kay Richard, so sana bigyan nila kami ng chance na iba naman [ang makasama]."
When asked to describe her new leading man, she glances in his direction and says with a smile, “Perfect." She imparts, “Alam mo, si Chard kasi, hindi pa ako [si] MariMar noon, pinapansin na niya ako, so hindi niya ako pinansin dahil naging MariMar ako. Pinansin niya ako kahit noong dati ko pa. Ang gwapo na, mabait pa, maalaga pa! Perfect para sa akin!"
But Marian isn’t the only one who seems smitten! “Sweet" is how Richard describes his leading lady. “Masarap siyang katrabaho, she’s fun, and [there’s] never a dull moment with her, not only with me, but with everyone. Talagang enjoy ako pag kasama ko siya."
stars
Direk Mark Reyes attests to Richard and Marian’s great onscreen and off screen chemistry: “Bibistuhin ko sila!" he says with a laugh. “Malambing [sila] sa isa’t-isa, tapos ‘board of censors’ si Marian sa mga phone calls ni Richard! Pag hindi sila nagte-take, siya may hawak ng cell phone ni Richard. Si Ricardo [naman], walang magawa dahil sinasapak siya ni Marian! Lambing-brutal yung dalawa, e!"
He adds, “Tapos nagkasundo ang dalawa sa pagkain! Pag may gusto si Marian, automatic, papabili ni Richard, maski saan kami."
“Noong una, nagkakailangan [sila]; nakita ko yun, e. Pero it was easy, it was fast. Throughout shooting, na-develop yung rapport nila."
Even Ms. Annette Gozon agrees! “Hay naku! Ang dami-dami nilang kulitan! Mas nakakatawa nga sila off-cam e! Kunwari, hahawakan ni Richard si Marian, ‘Ayoko nga! Wag mo akong hawakan!’ Pero pag alis ni Richard, kinikilig naman!"
She continues, “Para sa akin, bagay na bagay sila, kasi noong pinanood namin sa big screen yung footages, para ngang magkamukha sila, e! They look good together, and pareho naman yata silang single, so malay mo kung anong mangyari sa kanila!"
What to look forward to
“Si Richard sa pelikulang ito ay isang kissing bandit with Ehra and Marian!" shares direk Mark. “So if kissing scenes hinahanap niyo, marami sa pelikulang ito!"
Aside from sweet moments between Richard and his “women," Marian says that her favorite parts include the one in the movie theater where she makes a scene, and the stag party sequence where she punches Richard!
“Nakakatawa yung pelikula," says Richard. “Mage-enjoy kayo kasi ang daming mga nakakatawang moments kaming dalawa ni Marian. And hindi namin naisip talaga na magiging ganoon yung rapport namin."
He invites everyone to watch My Best Friend’s Girlfriend this Valentine’s: “It’s the perfect Valentine movie because people will laugh, people will fall in love, people will cry, and in the end, everyone will be happy. So lalabas ang mga tao sa sinehan na masaya at nag-enjoy. It’s really the perfect date movie!" - iGMA.tv
