After debuting their love team in last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival entry Vince and Kath and James, Star Magic artists Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto have taken their tandem into new and otherworldly heights through the Star Cinema film Love You to the Stars and Back.
Joshua and Julia once again displayed their undeniable chemistry on their first ever film under “Hugot Director” Antoinette Jadaone. The film has officially raked in P60 million as of Sept. 5, after almost a week since it hit the local cinemas.
However it was not just chemistry that was evident between JoshLia on their second film together, because there’s also their growing depth, sincerity and maturity as actors. Joshua gave life fantastically to the cancer-stricken and good-natured Caloy, while Julia owned the longing and eccentric Mika. They have likewise showed how they can work as “partners” after successfully elevating each other and giving a heartfelt performance on their respective moments on the film.
Joshua and Julia’s performances became a trending topic since its release as netizens, including multi-awarded rising actor Christian Bables, continued to rave about the raw emotions or “feels” of the movie. Spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo lauded the nuances and the mannerisms that JoshLia showed in the film to convey their feelings for one another. There were also the likes of Pelikula Mania, who noted how Julia and Joshua’s youthfulness and undeniable chemistry paved the way for the emotional scenes to become fully-charged one second and totally endearing the next one.
Other netizens, meanwhile, praised the film’s story. According to @magandabamovie, “It was a story about misery and yet it was told in a very charming way. ‘Yun palang kuha na agad ang attention ng audience.”
While JoshLia’s onscreen magic was most certainly the film’s highlight, Direk Tonet’s tightly written script, solid characters and smooth execution, coupled with the film’s clear cinematography, easily placed Love You To The Stars And Back on the top spot of her own filmography. Some netizens even dubbed “LYSB” as Direk Tonet’s “best film yet.”
Be part of Caloy’s and Mika’s journey and find out what it really takes to bet on love and to readily accept the flaws of the ever harsh world where nothing seems to last forever.
Aside from Joshua and Julia, Love You To The Stars And Back also features Cherry Pie Picache, Carmina Villaroel, Ariel Rivera, Maricar Reyes-Poon, Edgar Allan Guzman, Joaquin Reyes, Eda Nolan, and Belle Mariano.
It is still is screening in cinemas nationwide.