Movie Review: ‘Ex Ex Lovers’ is a messy ‘Gimik’ with a huge heart

The film is surprisingly a defiant fuck you to the Philippines’ archaic marriage laws.


WARNING: Contains spoilers.

 

Joy (Jolina Magdangal), a single mother, is looking forward to a peaceful Valentine's dinner with her daughter, SC (Loisa Andalio). But their quiet evening takes an unexpected turn when SC’s boyfriend, Joey (Juan Karlos Labajo), crashes their meal with a surprise proposal. When SC says yes, Joy is faced with a new challenge — fulfilling her daughter’s wish for her father, Ced (Marvin Agustin), to walk her down the aisle. The only problem? Ced is in Malta, and Joy must reunite with the ex-husband she thought she had left behind for good.

 

For the “Batang ‘90s”

 

To fully appreciate the silliness of Ex Ex Lovers, one must understand that the entire film is a love letter to fans of the iconic “MarJo” love team — one of the most bankable multimedia pairings in 1990s Philippine entertainment. Directed by JP Habac and written by Antoinette Jadaone and Kristine Gabriel, the film intentionally leans into the signature quirkiness of its leads’ comedic style, a brand of humor that may require a suspension of disbelief for those who didn’t grow up with the playful absurdity of ‘90s comedy.

 

This nostalgia-driven approach extends beyond just Magdangal and Agustin; it also caters to fans of Gimik, the iconic weekend drama series that aired on ABS-CBN from 1996 to 1999. The film makes a deliberate callback to this era, assembling supporting characters played by Judy Ann Santos, Mylene Dizon, Dominic Ochoa, and G. Toengi, all of whom were part of Gimik’s original cast. Their appearances aren’t just casual cameos — the film ensures that their introductions are grand and dramatic, designed to elicit cheers from longtime fans. For those unfamiliar with this history, understanding these cameos is crucial to making sense of why Santos and Dizon, who play Joy’s best friends, only appear at the beginning and end of the film rather than accompanying her throughout her struggles.

 

There are a lot of blink-and-you-miss-it “MarJo” references in the movie. Heck, even the character names — Joy and Ced — are an obvious nod to Magdangal and Agustin’s roles in Labs Kita… Okey Ka Lang?, where they played Bujoy and Ned. But the film doesn’t stop there. It sneaks in callbacks through dialogue, visual cues, and even the actors’ mannerisms. One particularly cheeky moment sees Joy and Ced bickering in a way that mirrors their classic “tampuhan” scenes from their ‘90s films, complete with exaggerated reactions and that signature mix of comedy and “kilig.”

 

Even the soundtrack plays a part in this nostalgia trip. Fans will notice that certain scenes are underscored by music reminiscent of “MarJo’s” past projects, subtly reinforcing the film’s tribute to their love team legacy. It’s clear that Ex Ex Lovers isn’t just using Magdangal and Agustin as leads; it’s fully embracing their cinematic history, making every frame feel like a warm, familiar hug for longtime fans.

 

Older fans, modern problems

 

Most “MarJo” fans, like myself, are probably in their mid-30s or early 40s now, facing a completely different set of problems compared to almost 30 years ago. Many will walk into the cinema hoping to relive that signature, effortless chemistry between Magdangal and Agustin (and they won’t be disappointed, as the film delivers it in full), escape their modern-day struggles for a couple of hours, and bask in the same magic that once made “MarJo” one of the most beloved love teams of the ‘90s.

 

And that’s where Ex Ex Lovers finds its unexpected edge. While it delivers on nostalgia, the film also attempts to weave in social commentary — sometimes effectively, other times awkwardly, as if sprinkled in rather than fully integrated into the narrative. It critiques the complacency of those who have settled comfortably into the status quo, unwilling to challenge the systems that don’t directly affect them, as well as the outdated institution of marriage itself. Beneath its humor and sentimentality, the film is surprisingly a defiant middle finger to the Philippines’ archaic marriage laws.

 

But perhaps the most refreshing part of the film is how it ensures that its single-mother protagonist remains in control until the very end. It never bends to the outdated, toxic Filipino notion of “magkabalikan para sa anak” — the idea that exes should reunite for the sake of their child. Instead, Ex Ex Lovers firmly establishes that motherhood, love, and self-worth do not have to be defined by a past relationship. It allows Joy to be more than just someone’s ex-wife or someone’s mother; she is her own person, making choices that serve her, not just the expectations of those around her.

 

At its core, Ex Ex Lovers is a film that knows exactly who it’s for. It feeds off nostalgia, indulges in romance, and delivers the kind of humor that only Batang ‘90s will truly appreciate. But beneath the kilig and comedic absurdity, it quietly rebels against the very traditions that shaped its audience. It asks: What if love doesn’t have to mean going back? What if the happy ending isn’t about rekindling the past, but about moving forward?

 

For a film that thrives on revisiting history, Ex Ex Lovers makes one thing clear: it refuses to be trapped by it. — WALPHS.com

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