Unbreakable (2019 Filipino film)

Unbreakable is a 2019 Filipino romantic drama film directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar starring Angelica Panganiban, Bea Alonzo and Richard Gutierrez. The film was released to mixed-to-positive reviews but the over dramatization in the story was criticised.^[1]

Unbreakable
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mae Cruz-Alviar
Screenplay by	Vanessa R. Valdez Kris Ann de la Peña Patrick John Valencia Additional: Mae Cruz-Alviar
Story by	Vanessa R. Valdez
Starring	Angelica Panganiban Bea Alonzo Richard Gutierrez
Cinematography	Hermann Claravall
Edited by	Beng Bandong
Music by	Cesar Francis Concio
Production company	ABS-CBN Film Productions
Distributed by	Star Cinema
Release date	27 November 2019 (2019-11-27)
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino, English
Box office	₱120 million

Plot

2005

Then aged-18, Mariel Salvador and Deena Yambao become friends in college. While Mariel is an IT major, Deena is more impulsive and keeps changing majors and is insistent on having a boyfriend. No matter what happened in life, they vowed to maintain their friendship.^[2]

2012

Mariel is set to marry photographer-cum-businessman Justin Saavedra. Deena, who eventually became a nurse in Norway, goes to a wedding in the Philippines as a maid of honour where she meets Justin's brother Bene Saavedra. Issues arise when Justin and Bene's mother, Helen Saavedra takes a liking for Deena while having a grudge against Mariel.^[2]

Whether their desires in love affect their friendship form the rest of the story.^[1]

Cast

• Angelica Panganiban as Deena Yambao
• Bea Alonzo as Mariel Salvador
• Richard Gutierrez as Justin Saavedra, Mariel's ex-husband. He is the father of Mareena, Deena's daughter
• Ian Veneracion as Bene Saavedra, Justin's older brother who married Deena. He was killed in a plane crash
• Rosanna Roces as Janice Salvador, Mariel's mother
• Gloria Diaz as Helen Saavedra, mother of Justin and Bene
• Via Antonio as Sarah
• PJ Endrinal as Pochoy
• Allan Paule as Dodi, Mariel's father
• Issa Litton as Cara
• Joao Constancia as Alfred Salvador, Mariel's one of younger brothers
• Anthony Jennings as Mark Salvador, Mariel's one of younger brothers
• Xia Vigor as Mareena, Deena's daughter with Justin and Mariel's goddaughter

Reception

A critic from ABS-CBN wrote that "Director Mae Cruz-Alviar never allowed the story to sag, coming up with another new, more difficult complication to challenge their friendship even further. It was so neat to notice how even the smallest details mentioned fell right into place in the overall story". ^[2] A critic from Rappler wrote that "Unbreakable uses low-brow tragedy as a crutch. It is so desperate for sobs that it injects its storyline with the most unimaginative of devices. The film verges on being totally shameless".^[3] A critic from Cosmopolitan wrote that "Unbreakable is not a perfect film though" and concluded that "overall, I would say this movie is outstanding and definitely a must-watch for every Cosmo girl and her best girl friends".^[4]