The Richard-Marian reunion that’s worth the wait
IT’S been a long five years since two of GMA Network’s biggest stars have shared the big screen. But come April 10, the tandem that made a box office hit out of the 2008 romanticcomedy My Best Friend’s Girlfriend will headline another co-production of Regal Entertainment Inc. and GMA Films, titled My Lady Boss. And according to Richard Gutierrez and Marian Rivera, their new movie
■ is worth the wait.
“Mas nag- mature na kaming dalawa ni Chard in the last five years,” the Temptation of Wife star elaborated, “Kaya mas marami kaming ibang eksenang nagawa dito sa My Lady Boss.”
“Yes, we’re both a step higher in terms of maturity,” agreed Richard, who has lately been enjoying hosting travel programs on television. “That’s why we have more intimate scenes— mas daring na kami ngayon sa pelikula.”
Inspired by the Hollywood flick The Proposal, starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, My Lady Boss has Richard and Marian’s characters at odds with each other.
Marian is Evelyn, a strict and heartless brand manager of a successful company. Ruthless and self-centered she takes her subordinates’ feelings for granted, thus earning the nickname, “666, The Queen of Hell.”
Richard is Zach, a rich and irresponsible hunk, whose first business venture leads him to prison for bouncing checks. His grandfather rescues him fom his predicament, and pays off his debts, but with very specific conditions: Zach has to land himself a decent job and do well at it, at least for a year. He becomes Evelyn’s assistant brand manager, and so begins the battle of wills and personalities.
In the course of the story, boss and assistant fall in love, giving way to the “more mature” scenes the actors talked about.
“Pumayag na ako makipag- kissing scene kay Chard dito,” revealed Marian. “And sa buong career ko, si Dingdong [Dantes, her boyfriend], Dennis [Trillo, her leading man in the Temptation teleserye], at ngayon si Richard pa lang ang nakaka- kissing scene ko.”
“Maryoon ding shower scene sa movie si Yan,” added Richard, using Marian’s nickname, “and very sexy talaga siya doon.”
“Nakatulong maging komportable kami ni Chard dahil din sa pagkakaibigan namin,” Marian continued. “Wala kaming tinatago sa isa’t isa, personal man o tungkol sa trabaho puwede naming pag-usapan kahit na anong oras.”
The actors’ producers are also very happy with the outcome of My Lady Boss.
Speaking on behalf of GMA Films, vice president for programming Joey Abacan, said, “Nataggalan gumawa ulit ng pelikula si Richard and Marian dahil dalawa sila sa pinakamalalaking artista ng GMA. Mahirap talaga sila pagsamahin dahil sa projects nila at ngayon lang nagkaroon ng opportunity na makahanap ng magandang schedule para sa kanila dalawa.”
My Lady Boss also stars Rocco Nacino, Sandy Andolong, Ronaldo Valdez, Jackie Lou Blanco and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, among others. It is directed by Jade Castro and opens nationwide on April 10.