Second chances: A ‘One More Try’ review
Does the end justify the means? How much will you give if a young, innocent life is at stake? Will you put your own family on the line or risk a precious relationship? Or will you think of yourself first and cry “No!”?
It’s the question the characters of “One More Try” had to ask themselves. But it’s not that simple. Relationships – long, loving ones – must be sacrificed. Hearts must break, tears must be shed. A painful past, supposedly banished into oblivion -- must come to life again.
Edward (Dingdong Dantes) and Jacqueline or Jack (Angelica Panganiban) have it all: wealth, a happy married life, respect in society, except for one – a child. Grace (Angel Locsin), Edward’s ex-girlfriend, has the one thing the couple doesn’t have – a son. But the boy is sick. And she must ask one last favor from Edward, the boy’s father, and Jack.
In most cases, the rules of right and wrong decide on the issue. It’s either-or, black or white.
But in this case, right and wrong just won’t do. Yes, it’s wrong to ‘borrow’ someone else’s husband. But it’s right to save a life.
A mother's love
Grace must settle for the gray area to save her son. It’s do or die, now or never.
A first glance, “One More Try” is too serious for the season of hope. But you’d be surprised as the story unravels.
You see tears, hear arguments, witness breakdowns. That’s because the characters get hurt. They protect their turf, but they forgive.
Even if they lash out at each other, the characters turn out to be what God meant them to be: good human beings.
They realize money can’t buy a happy family. They understand a mother’s love is all-consuming. And nothing, and no one can get in its way.
So the tears turn into smiles; the smiles give way to laughter.
The film’s Christmas scene ending is symbolic of all things bright and beautiful, not just in the way the house is alive with easy banter and a table groaning with food.
It stands for hope that springs eternal for the loving mother, the doting wife, the repentant husband, the faithful boyfriend (played by Zanjoe Marudo) and other characters in the film.
That’s the optimism the Metro Manila Film Festival is celebrating when it named “One More Try” Best Picture during awards night at Meralco Theater and when the Cinema Evaluation Board gave it an “A” for excellence.
It’s the same optimism that lives in our hearts, now that 2013 is here, and Christ’s birth has redeemed all of us – forever.
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed.
