Director: Cathy Garcia-Sampana
Writers: Carmi Raymundo, Crystal S. San Miguel, and Olivia M. Lamasan
Stars: Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards, and Joross Gamboa
Release Date: November 15, 2024
It has been five years since the phenomenal love team of Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards portrayed the roles of Joy and Ethan in the blockbuster movie Hello, Love, Goodbye; now, they are back in a sequel titled Hello, Love, Again. In this movie, people follow Joy to Canada where she has been living and suffering, trying to escape her former life with Ethan in Hong Kong. Five years later, Ethan comes face-to-face with her again, and they must decide whether their feelings for each other have evolved or remained unchanged.
Undoubtedly, just like its predecessor, this is a movie that is directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana and is already making history. It marks the most extensive North American release for a Filipino movie, proof of the worldwide interest in Kathryn and Alden’s love team. In addition to the love story, the movie gives a glimpse of lives of Overseas Filipino Workers and the struggles of living and working in foreign land while embracing courage, commitment and the power of youth love. This left fans disappointed as they hoped this is not the end of Joy and Ethan’s love story.
What’s New in the Story?
This is the sequel to ‘Hello, Love, Goodbye’, and it takes place five years later. For the audiences, it has also been five years since the first movie in reel life and hence there is a more personal touch to this reunion. Ethan is left alone in Hong Kong, and has been estranged from Joy for years after she left him to pursue her ambition in Canada. Now, the two must deal with the emotional weight of their separation, asking tough questions: What changed in their lives? With the distance and various obstacles that have been presented on the show, can love last such a long distance?
As what Alden Richards mentioned, it was refreshing to don the costume of Ethan again but had its own set of difficulties. “A lot has changed,” he says. What occurred throughout the five years? What kind of people are they to be able to achieve that kind of success? These are the questions that make a movie.”
Joy’s Journey in Canada
For Kathryn Bernardo, portraying Joy in this chapter entails returning to a character recrafted through her ordeals. Now known as Marie, Joy has literally drawn a wall around oneself in a bid to shield herself from pain. As Bernardo stated, ”Marie is drawn from everything that Joy has undergone including loss, COVID, and the struggle of living destitute in an unfamiliar country.”
This failed to reduce Joy’s core values regardless of her hardened exterior at first glance. “It is for this reason that when she goes home and removes the makeup off her face, she remains the same Joy that everyone fell for in the first movie,” as Bernardo opined. This is why she feels the need to act strong, that is, to come across as a strong person because she would not want to appear weak in any way.
It is sad but what Joy went through is very familiar to most of the immigrants. Emigration, as a rule, means a new life, new contacts, and a certain amount of risk. As Kathryn puts it, “It is not always simple, but it is rather commendable to see that she has not given up on her dreams.”
How Ethan Has Changed
Ethan has also evolved in the years since Hello, Love, Goodbye. While Hello, Love, Again presents an optimistic and happy-go-lucky character, Ethan could be described as a considerably grown-up character influenced by life’s experiences. Alden says, “Ethan has struggled throughout the pandemic and being away from Joy makes him reflect on what love and life are.” He loves and cares for her though he changed a little; he is not as playful as before but more serious and pensive at times.
Filming in Canada: A Fresh Perspective
Unlike the previous series, part 3 is set in Canada rather than in Hong Kong, which is a plus. The scope and unfamiliarity of these territories represent the characters’ inner transformation. The two actors opine that shooting in Canada assisted them in depicting the changes in their characters. The ACS respondent, Bernardo, further mentions that Being away from home augmented the experience of becoming Joy and Ethan.
Love and Life: The Big Questions
One of the central themes of the movie is the question: Is love always the answer? As for the plot, Ethan has not lost hope to revive their relationship, but life’s experiences make their reunion challenging. Alden muses, “The characters make the decisions, and they’re not always easy ones.” Love is not always the answer, and there are times when it is about doing the right thing for number one.”
Chemistry That Captured Hearts
As for the movie Hello, Love, Goodbye when it was launched, audiences could not take their eyes off the performance of Kathryn and Alden. Some people actually questioned whether the ‘love teams’ could work together or not, but they proved the skeptics wrong here. However, they had raised the bar of expectations and their on-screen comeback in Hello, Love, Again is another beautiful journey.
Kathryn adds: “We did not anticipate such a positive response of the audience to the first movie.” As to the sequel, there was simply nothing more to do but believe in the story and in ourselves again. As she said the words, it’s as if it was time for their reunion.
An Engaging and Touching Story
Comprehensive and broadly appealing, Hello, Love, Again is a perfect pick for anyone who has ever been in a long-distance relationship, struggled to start a new chapter in her life, or felt torn between she wants and she ought to. More than just a romance, it is a beautiful tale of character development, the life-altering decisions one is willing to make for their loved ones, and the strength revealed when one follows their passion. Audiences who enjoyed the first movie will appreciate how it resolves certain intriguing issues while at the same time creating a fresh perspective on Joy and Ethan’s relationship.
Whether you are here for a love story or a realistic representation of life in Spain, this sequel serves as a reminder that while love can transform, it will never disappear. Don’t miss it!
Hello, Love, Again 2024 Parents Guide
Hello, Love, Again is not rated because it has not undergone the official rating process by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA).
Language: No explicit language is noted, but emotional dialogue may include intense arguments or mature expressions of feelings.
Romance: Features mild romantic moments, including hand-holding, hugging, and possible kisses. No explicit sexual content.
Alcohol Use: Characters may consume alcohol socially or as part of emotional coping.
This film is appropriate for teens (14+) who can handle emotional and relational themes, though parental guidance is advised for younger viewers.