ADMITTEDLY, WE DIDN?T HAVE high hopes for Mark Reyes? ?You to Me Are Everything.? After all, very few rom-coms these days live up to the shameless hype that precedes them. It?s hard not to get suspicious when you?re inundated with nonstop plugs from a parade of celebrities heaping praises on a movie before they?ve seen it.

While far from perfect, Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes? reversals-of-fortune rom-com has two things going for it: Its leads? indubitable opposites-attract chemistry and its perfect casting:

Francisca Carantes (Rivera) and Rafael Iñigo Benitez III (Dantes) can?t be more different?she?s an Igorot maiden who?s content with her life caring for her pet pig when she?s not peddling strawberry jam to tourists in Itogon, Benguet, and he?s the Manila social set?s man-about-town, who thrives in his narcissistic life in the fast lane.

It?s the best and worst of times for Iska and Rafael, respectively, when they finally cross paths?but, sparks don?t fly: While the former finds herself inheriting the vast fortune of her estranged tycoon father, the latter is left grasping for scraps after his congressman-dad is found guilty of corruption.

Lavish mansion

Iska may be too loudmouthed and jologs for Rafael?s taste, but she?s also smarter and spunkier than she appears?and she knows what she?s up against. To find a quick fix for her fish-out-of-water situation, Iska hires her dashing new ?cause célèbre??who used to own the lavish mansion she now lives in?as her business manager. Rafael sees the offer?as well as his new employer?s millions?as a way out of the dire financial straits he?s in.

As the unlikely couple struggles to contain their growing affection for each other, Rafael turns the unpolished Iska into the nouveau riche stunner, Cheska?then, they evolve into modern-day incarnations of Pygmalion and Galatea, who predictably succumb to each other?s unexpected charms. But, their oil-over-water romance is an uphill battle they have to hurdle?and handle with care. ?A case of art imitating life?

Marian and Dingdong?s latest starrer has formula written all over it?it has manipulative stepsisters, two-timing friends and lovers (Fabio Ide, Isabel Oli) straight out of Lady Gaga?s version of ?bad romance,? spineless ?frogs? that never become the princes they?re supposed to be, a feisty heroine with a heart of gold, and a prince charming who finally realizes the error of his ways.

Predictability

If you?re looking for something new, you won?t find it here. The movie?s clockwork predictability doesn?t allow the production to break out of the hackneyed rom-com mold. But, its story holds up better than expected because it doesn?t have lofty thematic ambitions. This time around, Reyes tells a ripping yarn that gains cumulative traction as the story progresses, synergized by characters that suit the two leads to a T.

The film is hobbled by some hammy supporting actors and a dragging third quarter, but relies on Dingdong and Marian?s chemistry to iron out the kinks. The former is comfortable in Rafael?s skin, while Marian comes off with a winning mix of pluck and provincial charm, and conveys her character?s exuberance without an excess of ear-splitting bravado. Her knack for delivering punchlines clicks with the audience.

Moreover, it?s a good thing the picture-perfect actress isn?t required to deliver lines she can?t handle when her character is eventually thrust into the alta sociedad to which Rafael belongs?which makes their reversals of fortune more believable than expected.