Melason headed for the big screen

MANILA, Philippines - Melason is headed for the big screen come July 13 and the tandem is up against a formidable foe at the box-office.

The final installment of the Harry Potter series hits cinemas the day after The Adventures of Pureza: Queen of Da Riles, the debut film of the loveteam of Melai Cantiveros and Jason Francisco, opens nationwide.

Any message for the world-famous boy wizard?

“Harry Potter… be good,” Melai quipped.

Just as the trailer seemingly pokes fun at this “coincidence” by using a voice-over with a British accent, Melason (the uni-name that fans have baptized the reel and real-life sweethearts) tries to make light of the matter. But they realistically hope that after Filipino moviegoers watch Harry Potter, they will watch the adventures — and misadventures — of Pureza.

In the comedy, Melai plays the orphan Pura who becomes the glam girl Pureza Mayriles when she assumes the identity of a Brazilian model who does a disappearing act. Jason is the childhood friend and eventual love interest named Ruben Padilla.

Lest viewers forget, as Melai particularly pointed out, she may have been cast as the title role but it’s really a film about her and Jason.

The film, which is directed by Soxie Topacio based on the script of Gina Tagasa, should further solidify the “last one standing” among the popular love teams of ABS-CBN amid the ongoing trend of Kapamilya pairings being mixed and matched in various projects.

Melason was born on the 2009 edition of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother; it was an unlikely coupling — or so it appeared at first. However, Melai and Jason, both aged 23, captured the imagination of TV viewers with their cat-and-mouse antics and natural if not comical chemistry.

Pureza director Soxie Topacio: I didn’t know them at first pero naaliw ako sa kanila

Will the tandem translate to box-office success?

Based on the trailer, viewers can expect physical comedy and signature Melason exchanges, most of which were spontaneous, according to direk Soxie.

The director also admitted that when he was first approached by the film producer Star Cinema to helm the film, he didn’t know the two from Adam. He had to ask around about the two, and when he did finally meet them and got to work with them, what he experienced was a riot. “Tawa lang kami ng tawa,” the director said.

Even the movie’s presscon at the Dolphy Theater in the ABS-CBN compound last July 4 became a riot as the two unleashed their cat-and-mouse selves, as they answered questions about their off screen relationship, pet peeves and what are the things that endear them to each other.

Asked how their 16-month-long relationship is faring, both said: “We may easily get irritated at each other, but we reconcile right away.”

What (or is it who?) is the usual culprit behind these irritations?                    “I no longer get jealous, to be honest, kasi walang effect sa kanya,” said Melai.

Jason said, “To be honest, our fights are caused by the simplest things. Nag-aasaran lang.”

One thing is certain: The major pet peeve of Jason about Melai is her penchant to be so open about her life with the public.

Melai and Jason ham it up with Gina Pareño

Jason answered lengthily, with some hint of fond exasperation: “If you only know how many times I’ve warned her. Maganda ‘yong sinasabi mo sa tao, dahil siyempre, parang kasama na namin ang mga tao, maganda kung totoo siya. Pero po may mga bagay kasi na kahit konti, e, iwan mo sa sarili. Kulang na lang ‘yong buhay isulat mo, or kulay ng underwear sabihin mo.”

“She is the only person I know who, if possible, would tell everything there is to tell about her life. Talagang walang kasinungalingan. Kung ano ang nakikita n’yo sa kanya, totoo lahat talaga. Maganda rin ‘yon para sa mga tao, pero may limitasyon din naman,” Jason added.

Asked if he found co-star Bianca Manalo, attractive, he took a look at the beauty queen-turned-actress and said, “Ito labis (referring to Bianca), ikaw (Melai) may kulang, pero hahanapin mo ‘yong kulang. Mas maganda ‘yon kasi may challenge.”

Jason also said that he is more into “not-so-beautiful” women these days that’s why he is very much contented with Melai. “Na-experience ko na ang ganyan. Kapag sobrang ganda, madaling makuha ng iba, e. Pero kapag ganito (pointing at Melai) ... Mas magada ‘yong hindi sobrang labis.”

Melai, for her part, said: “Kahit ganyan ang attitude niyan, kapag hindi ka nagtiis talaga, hindi kami aabot ng 16 months. Kailangan talaga ng sobrang pagmamahal. Siguro kung walang pagmamahal, wala na, break na kami.”

But she was quick to add, “But he is very kind; he is very kind especially to his family.

With Pureza co-stars (from left) Joem Bascon, Bekimon and Bianca Manalo

“Ako nga lang, binibigyan niya ako ng mga materyal na bagay, kahit na mas mapera ako sa kanya, e,” she further quipped.

The Adventures of Pureza: Da Queen of Riles also stars Gina Pareño, Joem Bascon, Martin del Rosario, newcomer Bekimon with a special guest appearance of Pokwang.