The Third Party

The Third Party is a compelling, humorous, and surprisingly thought-provoking Filipino romantic comedy from 2016; directed by the much-praised Jason Paul Laxamana and featuring a star-filled cast with Angel Locsin, Sam Milby, and Zanjoe Marudo taking center stage. It handles some complex themes with care but proves nonetheless to be a charmingly entertaining experience that holds heartfelt moments and relatable situations.

Angel Locsin plays Andi, an aspiring fashion designer who has been living and working in New York. A determined yet light-hearted woman who faces life with commendable positivity. An unexpected job loss, however, forces her to return to the Philippines to figure out her next steps. While settling back into her home country, she decides to seek consolation in her best friend, Max, portrayed by Zanjoe Marudo. Max is a firm but compassionate pediatrician, who has an unspoken love for the medical field, similar to how he feels about Andi. Unfortunately, his personal life takes a turn for the complicated when Andi resurfaces in his life.

On the other hand, there's Sam Milby as Christian—a handsome and successful resident doctor in the same hospital where Max works. He is mature and is perceived as very responsible by everyone around him. But behind this success is a complicated personal life that is about to intertwine with Max's when they met for the first time.

The plot takes a compelling and unexpected turn when Andi, Max, and Christian's lives intertwine in interesting, multi-layered dynamics. Putting a fresh spin on romantic tropes, The Third Party is essentially about navigating the complexity of modern love, relationships, and connections, while also dealing with individual struggles and self-discovery. It dives deep into the nuances of friendship, love, and the often blurred lines that exist between the two.

Aside from the impressive performances from the leading trio, The Third Party is also notable for its deft handling of the themes of romantic relationships and individual identity. It doesn't shy away from exploring varied relationship dynamics and does so in a manner that is both authentic and engaging. The movie is also successful in presenting its characters as realistically flawed individuals. Each character is given their fair share of triumphs and trials; they laugh, they hurt, they make mistakes, and they learn — just as real people do.

Furthermore, the film beautifully showcases Filipino culture, complete with lively local festivals, vibrant urban scenes, and spectacular views of the Philippines’ natural beauty, thereby adding another layer of context and local color to this engaging narrative. The use of the local language, Tagalog, as well as English in the dialogue, provides an immersive and authentic Filipino viewing experience, while the direction of Jason Paul Laxamana weaves every scene together seamlessly.

Matters of the heart take center stage in more ways than one as our three leads navigate the tumultuous tides of love and friendship, all while dealing with their own internal struggles too. From its comedic moments to the emotional highs and lows, the film masterfully explores the joys and woes of love and friendship. The emotional pull of The Third Party is not solely reliant on its romantic plotlines. Individual complications and internal struggles also give the narrative depth and emotional weight.

The film also boasts a memorable soundtrack, which compliments the narrative perfectly. The music adds another layer of emotion to the story and represents the film’s themes in an auditory sense. The score and songs set the mood for each scene, from light-hearted and comical moments to emotional and heart-wrenching ones.

In summary, The Third Party stands out as a powerful exploration of love, friendship, and individuality. Stitching together traditional elements of romantic comedy with an innovative narrative twist, and forwarding a more inclusive representation of relationships, it crafts an engaging and thought-provoking film, spiced with humor and heart. It challenges one's perspectives while providing an entertaining and memorable movie-going experience. At the end of the day, it's a film that champions love in all its shapes, sizes, and forms.