Review: G! LU: Unpredictable like the waves 

It took five years for G! LU to see the light of day, although yes it's already quite an old movie the story that it tackles is still relevant and relatable until today. I guess the coming of age type of stories never grow old. 

G! LU tells the story of six graduating troublesome, happy-go-lucky, and impulsive high school boys called the Valley Boys Crew who went to La Union to spend their last few days together complete before they all go on separate paths for college.

Led by Carlos (Kiko Estrada) prolly the most matured thinking guy in the pack; he's the one that keeps the bond and the cool between the boys. Next is Albert (Ruru Madrid), the geek guy, the smartest and the most talented one in the group, musically inclined but he kept it as a secret. 

Patrick (David Licauco) your rich kid Chinoy friend who has that “Money is not an issue” attitude, well what Patrick wants, Patrick gets, but not this time I guess. The most controversial one in the group, Raymond (Teejay Marquez) sporty and charming, the term Chick-Boy definitely befits the character and it's for you to find out why. 

The Cousins, Brian (Enzo Pineda) and Ryan (Derrick Monasterio) have that love-hate relationship, both feisty and competitive, but will they win the girl that they want? 

Story wise, the movie was quite simple. It might look like your typical coming of age and barkada adventure movie, but just like the waves of La Union the movie offered an unpredictable tide that brought high and lows to the characters' stories as the movie progressed. 

The unpredictable plot twists gave different flavors to the movie, although the movie tried to give equal exposure to the five main characters, I think only three of them made an impact on the audiences during the premiere. .

I would say that the most interesting character and story line is that of Raymond, his character I would say is the most engaging one. It felt like there was a live football match inside the cinema, the crowd went really wild with his scenes. 

I would also like to commend this 2019 version of Michelle Marquez Dee, she was a natural beach goddess, sultry and alluring, definitely gave something surprising in the movie. Among the girls in the movie she delivered the best. 

When it comes to the quality of the movie, it was surprisingly good, being shelved for half a decade I can’t help to ask myself what went wrong. “G! LU” did not disappoint, the story was good and somehow still relatable to the new gens of today, cinematography was on point, the actors delivered their characters with flying colors, and most of all it’s very timely and perfect for this scorching hot summer.   

The movie was definitely worth watching and I’d say that the 5 years was worth the wait. 

G! LU is directed by Philip King, starring Ruru Madrid, Kiko Estrada, Derrick Monasterio, Teejay Marquez, Enzo Pineda, and David Licauco, produced by ALV Films, in cinemas April 24. 

Rating: 3/5 

The last seven days of summer! Seven days to be wild and free! Seven days to push the limits of youth!

For the six members of the VBC (Valley Boys Club), these are seven days to strengthen their friendship and live their best life, because for one of them, these may be the last days of his life.

This is the major premise of ALV Films’ latest movie project, in tandem with Benchingko Films and Rein Entertainment.

Entitled G! LU, the movie revolves around the adventures and misadventures of a motley crew of hunks and babes all ready to bare their well-chiseled abs and bikini-ready bods on the silver screen.

With La Union’s breathtaking beaches and rustic scenery as its backdrop, G! LU also serves as a travelogue—a timely nod to environmental awareness and ecotourism promotion.

David, Teejay, Derrick, Enzo, and Katarina, together with G! LU writer/director Philip King and G! LU producer Arnold Vegafria faced the entertainment media during their press conference at KAO Manila, Newport World Resorts, Pasay City on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

The Valley Boys Crew is a barkada comprised of affluent teenagers. Their friendship began as neighbors in an exclusive subdivision and carried on until their third year of collage in a private university. 

Together, they face the perils and challenges of young adulthood, heightened and complicated by their upper-class upbringing.

Their world is turned upside down after a bar altercation sparks their parents’ decision to have them finish their last year of college in different parts of the world. With their looming separation upon them, they embark on their last barkada trip to La Union where their friendship transforms into a real brotherhood.

No stranger to the movie industry, respected talent manager and entrepreneur Arnold Vegafria is slowly gaining critical success as film producer. 

The Beauty Gonzalez-Kelvin Miranda starrer, After All, was ALV Films most recent release last February. After G! LU, the sexy romance flick My Stepmother’s Lover, starring Sunshine Cruz, Kiko Estrada and Martin del Rosario, is expected to hit the theaters in June.

For G! LU, Vegafria is grateful for having conceptualized a movie that will resonate with the millennial generation. 

He says, “I’m sure today’s kids will identify with the different characters they’ll see in the movie, and can relate to all their coming-of-age problems, especially now that mental health issues have become more relevant.”

Vegafria also thanks the Kapuso network for the support that they have accorded him. 

He says, “I’m very grateful for the trust and support, to the extent that they have acquired the TV rights for the movie.” 

“I’m also very happy for my former Miss World queens – Katarina, Michelle, Maureen, Kimi, Sophia and Chanel – since this is one of their very first movie projects.”

“The local movie industry is definitely on an upswing, and we plan to keep it alive by continuously creating relevant and meaningful content. Hopefully, we at ALV Films can come up with truly unique storylines, and maybe even collaborate with some foreign productions who share our vision for movie magic.”

Scheduled to open in local theaters on April 24, G! LU is written and directed by Philip King of Rein Entertainment.