Pepe Herrera is no Empoy Marquez. Although the first felt so honored when he’s being compared to the blockbuster comedian, Pepe, as many film critics said during the press launch of the film The Hopeful Romantic, has numerous talents and can easily go from being a comedian to a serious actor, not to mention that he’s also a musician and a stage talent.
But the comparison between the two comedians was inevitable. In the Regal Entertainment film, Pepe plays an ordinary man who captures the attention of a sultry woman who wouldn’t likely fall for an unattractive man like him. The character, of course, reminds people of Empoy’s role in the sleeper hit, Kita Kita.
“I don’t like to feel the pressure of being called the next Empoy. I’m not that competitive and Empoy is my good friend. I’d rather focus on the film, and share with the audience the kind of story that Regal has prepared for them,” Pepe remarked.
In the film, Pepe plays Jess, a 33-year-old virgin who works as a valet parking attendant at The Manila Hotel. He is described as an honest man.
The comedian, who finally gets to be a lead star in the upcoming rom-com, has all the right to feel proud of the product they are offering to the moviegoers. The official trailer of the upcoming sexy romantic comedy, The Hopeful Romantic, has gone viral as it has reached a remarkable 10.5 million views on Facebook in less than three weeks since it was launched.
If anything, the virality of the trailer to organic Facebook users indicates a positive reception from netizens. As of today, the trailer has now reached 111,000 shares, 15,000 positive comments on Good Time Fan Page. And if this reception is an early indication that people really anticipate the romcom, then we can expect another hit movie that can make Regal’s matriarch, Lily Monteverde, produce more movies with a similar premise.
Also starring Ritz Azul, The Hopeful Romantic offers not just an entertaining love story but also aims to impart an important lesson about love.
Ritz, who gets to be launched in this film as a leading lady, beams with pride about this project.
“Everybody who worked in this movie really gave their all. We had several revisions to get the shot that we wanted,” Ritz shared adding that she had to face a lot of challenges to complete the movie.
Firstly, Ritz, who is more comfortable with drama, ventures into comedy in The Hopeful Romantic. Secondly, she had to lose weight to effectively portray her role as a sexy gold digger.
“I had to look like one so I prepared physically by losing weight, kasi sobrang lumaki ako for a while before gawin 'yung movie,” she confessed. “I needed to be comfortable wearing a bikini in this film, too.”
In the story, Ritz is Veronica, a kept woman in the high society. One day she meets Jess (Pepe) at the hotel bar. Instantly, Pepe gets mesmerized by her presence. One thing leads to another, and Veronica gave Jess the “first time”. Jess, believing in the magic of what happened between them, decides that Veronica is his one true love.
Directed by Topel Lee, The Hopeful Romantic opens Sept. 12. For more updates, follow Regal Entertainment Inc on Facebook, @RegalFilms on Twitter, @RegalFilms50 on IG and Regal Cinema channel on YouTube.
