This and Third World Romance are my favorite romantic drama movies of Jose Liwanag (aka Carlo Aquino). His other movies felt downright miserable, redundant or recycled, for the lack of a better word. There is something about *Isa Pa With Feelings *that clicks effortlessly, especially the chemistry between the two leads, it feels natural and organic, they bring the kind of dynamic that feels straight out of a ’90s romantic comedy. Maine Mendoza is a natural. It's sad that she's no longer pursuing any film roles. Maybe she's choosy or disinterested to pick up any scripts, or perhaps not getting any more offers, although I would like to think it's the former rather than the latter. If there is a shared similarity between this movie and Third World Romance, that would be the characters played by Carlo Aquino. Both Gali and Alvin were written charmingly—they are the least type of guy anyone would fall for because they are often overlook for being overly friendly and nice—too good to be true, it's easy to think their intentions aren't pure.

this film clearly stood out among other filipino romantic films with the same old plots and storylines. it serves us something new, but at the same time presenting us with familiarity. unlike how other films portray toxicity and adversity within a relationship or in life, this film offers us an obstacle in a relationship, or in one's self, or in life, that is too hard to accept, but not hard to understand. the characters are neither surreal nor too real— they're not too good to be true, they are not ideal. it is not perfect but it is something a lot of people would long for. this film is a comfort for a lot of people tired of grasping hope, whispering to us that despite everything, someday, one way or another, life will still offer us something/someone that will understand and help us put all the pieces together, beyond differences, beyond limitations, beyond doubts, or even beyond reasons.