User reviews

Right, well I didn't really know what I was getting into here when I sat down to watch the 2019 Tagalog movie that was filmed in Hong Kong. Initially I thought it was a Chinese movie, but upon seeing the names of the cast, I looked on IMDb and saw that it was a Tagalog (Philippines) movie and not a Cantonese (Hong Kong) movie. And given my fascination with Asian movie, of course I sat down to watch "Hello, Love, Goodbye".

And I must definitely say that writers Carmi Raymundo, Cathy Garcia-Molina and Ronalisa A. Co came up with a rather enthralling storyline; one that definitely provided as much of entertainment and enjoyment, as it was a movie that was very watchable and likeable.

The storyline is one that easily sways away the audience, because it is wholehearted and nicely told storyline. And milling about in the storyline are some nicely detailed and interesting characters. So a big thumbs up to the writers on this accomplishment.

I will say that the acting in the movie was good. Now, I am not overly familiar with Tagalog cinema, but my wife told me that there were some rather famous Tagalog actresses and actors in the movie. Nevertheless, I think the acting performances were spot on.

At the same time, with providing a good story and good entertainment, "Hello, Love, Goodbye" really brought me back to my four years of living and working in Hong Kong. This movie stoked so many memories and definitely spurred a desire to return to Hong Kong to revisit that fabulous place.

If you like romantic movies, then I strongly believe that the 2019 movie "Hello, Love, Goodbye" from director Cathy Garcia-Molina is a movie that you will thoroughly enjoy. I was more than genuinely entertained by this movie, and it is a movie that I can warmly recommend you sit down to watch.

My rating of "Hello, Love, Goodbye" lands on a well-deserved seven out of ten stars.

This is so far, the best Filipino movie of 2019. I really love the story, which shows a lot about the lives of Filipino workers in Hong Kong. It is not like any other of those Filipino rom-com, and drama movies you've seen before. This will make you laugh out loud a lot and cry hard.

For me this is Cathy Garcia-Molina's best movie. Kathryn and Alden really shines in this, great acting by the whole cast. It also has great shots, cinematography and soundtrack so it is a must watch!

Being the highest-grossing Philippine movie thus far, I hope you don't mind if I came into watching this with high expectations. Still I was skeptic because the assumption was it will be another one of those formulaic Star Cinema movie starring Kathryn Bernardo, directed by Cathy Molina-Garcia, set in an international location, usual love story but with a twist: we get a new boy this time in the form of Alden Richards. For the most part I was right, it was all you could ever expect from the same group that gave us the highest-grossing movie the year before, 'How's of Us.' Amidst it's shortcomings, 'Hello, Love, Goodbye' is a pleasant surprise for a movie who's theme has been done a million times. Part of it's success can be attributed to showing us the reality of our hardworking domestic helpers in Hong Kong (which the OFW community all over the world related and responded to) and it did not give us the usual ending we are used to, which makes a sequel possible seeing as all three already expressed interest in doing.

The story was well-written for the most part and my favorite was the start of the movie. It was a different approach, fast-paced and intriguing. While at some point it had to slow down to become what it really was meant to be in the first place, a typical Pinoy love story, at least it introduced something new to the audience that can be the new norm in the future. Acting-wise, Kathryn and Alden both delivered but both lacked maturity which I'm hoping can be improved on once the sequel rolls around. There were exchanges that fell flat because either a) it was poorly-written or b) both did not have the capacity to deliver them with the emotions needed. It took a while for their chemistry to kick in, possibly a result of being pigeonholed in their respective love teams for a long time. Kathryn can act, but she has certain mannerisms when she deliver some of her lines that breaks my concentration from her acting. I'm still getting rich girl even though she's supposed to be covered in filth from hiding under a pile of garbage bags. Alden still comes from the John Lloyd Cruz school for acting, but as soon as he develops his own signature he should be destined for greater things. The supporting cast did what was required of them, with Maxine Medina and Jameson Blake as highlights.

There's always the burden of asking whether this is the movie that will propel Philippine cinema back to it's old glory. Obviously this is not it, but delightfully it's not a step back as well. Knowing this specific tandem and formula works, hopefully everyone involved will be more keen on wanting to elevate the viewing experience the second time around. I keep harping on this because I honestly believe it has the potential to become even more special than what they've already done here.

Its an eye opener to some of the facing problems of OFW

I was excited to watch the film due to the hype and some of my friends posting about it on social media however, I was very disappointed after watching the film as the acting from the lead actors including supporting cast appeared quite scripted and very awkward. Kathryn & Alden seemed too rehearsed and some of their co-actors were really annoying. The story was predictable and recycled from previous films. Only thing I appreciate was the cinematography and soundtrack. Save your money and just watch this on netflix or cinema one when it airs.

This is another cheese pinoy movie, but base in real life, that is the point, at the end family is not the principal role, a twisted end, a lot of lacrimogen bomb, good for the family but pinoy is the new korean drama

This is the best pinoy movie ever. The characters are superb. Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards performance was the best. There is no boring moments in the movie. It's a must watch for everyone. Kathryn Bernardo played the role of Joy a Filipino worker in Hong Kong who is struggling and doing odd jobs to take care of her family. On the other hand Alden Richards played the role of Ethan a funny and unserious bartender who later crossed path with Joy and the story of their undying love begins. The story is not just another pinoy love story. It's a story that shows the struggle of all OFW . I was touched and move by the acting of Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards. They made it possible for me to relate with the movie. I'm not a Filipino but I was able to get every piece of the movie because of their wonderful onscreen chemistry. Kudos to the cast and crew. Good job Director Molina. I wouldn't mind to travel again for the part 2 of this movie. It's worth my time and my money. More movies for this duos please. I would always travel with my family to watch their movie onscreen. More movies for Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards please. They've won my heart.

🕰Timing in life is everything; so the adage goes. In Hong Kong, time is G💰LD. As long as you move you'll live. Once you stop you'll starve. Over 200,000 Filipinos work in Hong Kong. It's most common to have a 2-yr domestic helper contract as Filipinos are not allowed to do anything else - unless they manage to become a citizen. Therefore, when Joy loses her job because her employers can no longer pay her, she takes an illegal waitressing job. The cops, inevitably, will come by to check IDs. When Joy sees them, she busts a move and runs. She ends up running right into the handsome bartender and 😙busts another move. She uses him as camouflage to hide from the po-po. Cops rarely bother a couple snogging in the alleyway, afterall. It's done so often in movies you might think that they would start checking, even if a duo is rounding first and headed for second, but it always seems to work.

The Filipino community in Hong Kong is small. Everyone is within 1° of separation, but it's large enough to support a Filipino radio station. (They have a nifty microeconomic system in place as well.) Joy thinks she got away scott-free only to wake up the next morning to a radio announcement about her! Ethan, the bartender, is looking for Joy so that she can return the kiss that she stole from him! Joy's friends go insane.

HLG is about what decent, but poor, people must do to survive: It is all about hard choices. It is also about the nature of love. Joy & Ethan. Ethan + Joy. She resists him, but she can't for long. The problem is that she's leaving. She's definitely leaving. She has a nursing degree that she can't use in Hong Kong. She's going to be a nurse in Canada. That's her dream, and n🅾thing's going to change her mind. N🅾t a thing/budkis/pist🅾🅾za/larkaflark/nuffink/jack squat/NATTY. Joy is no wimp. She has a will of iron. She warns Ethan to not get attached. Yet they allow themselves to fall in love. Every day they push the knife in a little deeper.

Their story is sweet and these protags are likable. He says he can handle it and he won't get in her way, but as that 🕰 approaches the pressure ratchets up. Because, 'when you love, it's all or nothing. If you hold back, then why love it all?' Ethan has a point. 'There are questions inside of me that only I can answer,' Joy insists. Joy has goals, a mission, and an ironclad agenda. She will not be swayed. Not now.

L💘VE. What does it look like? To Ethan it's: "If you loved me enough you would stay." ♻ To Joy it's: "If you loved me enough you would want me to go." Later, Joy asks the universe: "When a woman gives too much of herself, she's stupid, but when she prioritizes herself, she's bad. Where do we need to place ourselves? Is love only expressed through sacrifice?" Why so often, indeed, does every option, for women especially, seem irreconcilable? Love can teeter from selfish to selfless. Perhaps love always starts down in the selfish zone, but the more we sincerely love someone, the more selfless we should become. Leaving the shallow end and diving down deeper should elevate our love higher. If not, we must question how much in 💓 we are or how selfish we actually are. A young person should never be expected to throw away h/h future for a relationship, particularly a relatively new one. Talk about creating a debt for regret - No sane person would endorse that. Joy agonizes over this unexpected timeout from the race she's been running. Either option is valid. Her choice is hers alone. HLG tells young girls that their personal development and future is every bit as important as love.

Befitting a modest budget, most of the filming is on the street or in contained spaces. There's a couple of wow shots. They take a day off to go up into the mountains. On a cliff looking down on the city, the buildings are uniformly white. While they look like bad dental work there's also an ethereal beauty to the vista. The effect is otherworldly.

HLG is a 118 minute, 2019 release that is rated 8.2 on MDL. Overall, this is a well put together production. The writing, directing and acting all blend to make a great product with few flaws. This is a 🇵🇭Filipino production and I am looking forward to seeing more of their works. I've seen 2 🇭🇰Hong Kong productions, The Defected and Hong Kong West Side Stories(7.5). Both of them are good but also dark, edgy, sad, and a display of the worst elements of humanity. The group that is the most downtrodden in Hong Kong seems to have a brighter outlook. Between the 3 productions, one wouldn't think it's the same place. HLG is well worth the time to get a peek at life in Hong Kong from the view of the hard working, overlooked Filipino community. We🇺🇲 have alot to be thankful for.

QUOTE📢

Choice is only for the rich.

〰🖍 IMHO

📣78 📝72 🎭79 💓70 🦋67 🌞71 🎨70 ⚡30 🎵/🔊78 😅23 😭47 😱30 😯49 😖20 🤔45 💤0 🔚70

Age 12+ Adult situations kissing - mild

Rated PG: Parental Guidance Suggested

Re-📺? Not opposed

💔

This movie is almost 90% accurate when it comes to portraying ofw life in china. acting is very good and I never expected that kath and alden would have a good chemistry.

Another Kathryn same ol' tone of character film! I wish that her writers and directors would gave her something different worthy of famas or urian award, she deserves it, it was just the material that always failed her.

The story could have been very good to tell, but it was the storytelling that seems to be ordinary and safe... it could have been pushed a little bit more.

but at the end of the day, it makes you feel something and that is what Filipino films are good at

Kathryn and Alden gave justice to their characters. You'll forget that these are actors just portraing roles because they portrayed their characters so well! The chemistry between these two is overflowing! These movie is not just a love story, it's a life story. It tells you the life of Overseas Filipino Worker abroad, the struggle that they have to go through to achieve their goals for themselves and thier family.

Unexpected chemistry of Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards. They successfully portrayed their characters. The plot of the story is great and we want more! Great job Team HLG! Part2 please!!!

Real emotion, it gives you a glimpse of what its like to be an ofw worker, more so being a domestic helper.

Teaching one that inorder for you to love others, you need to love yourself first. You need to choose your own happiness

Ethan will continue sending friend requests even if Joy declined several times already. He will make the radio station talk about Joy in public without her permission. He will use another phone to text Joy anonymously. He will act like a police even if Joy is weeping out of fear. He will squeeze through inside a small room knowing that Joy will be uncomfortable. He will continually send "Need a friend today?" text messages even if Joy has rejected it so many times. I don't know how a Filipino girl reacts to such moves, but if people consider this as "nakakakilig," there's a problem.

'Hello, Love, Goodbye' is at its best when it tells the story of Kathryn Bernardo's character, Joy. In some ways, the film manages to outdo similar mainstream Filipino romance films because of Kathryn Bernardo's stunning performance and the earnest depiction of OFWs. Bernardo, whose acting holds the film together when it was falling apart, effectively evokes a palpable sense of weariness, discontent, and eagerness to alleviate Joy's situation. Actually, I can do without the 'La La Land' love story if the social commentary was strengthened and expounded more. In a similar vein with 'Sunday Beauty Queen,' the film resonates with Filipinos because of its sensible portrayal of what it is like to work abroad in a job you are overqualified in.

But Cathy Garcia-Molina's picture falls apart as the annoying, melodramatic score continues to play in the background, tackier drone shots are added, and more forced, "hugot" dialogues are delivered by the leads. Sure, this is how cliché-ridden mainstream Filipino romance plays out. But how I wish we get movies that transcend this generic romantic stratagem. 'Hello, Love, Goodbye' fails to offer something new to romance movies as an art form, which is disappointing since the OFW story and Joy's arc have so much potential.

This is by far the first movie of Alden Richards that I watched. At first, it was just an attempt to like the tandem of Kath and Alden but it turned out to be an affirmation of their chemistry. I was moved and even shed some tears even in scenes where not much is expected. Simple conversations that will make you fall into tears. Very touching movie. It's actually about Love in general and that includes Love of Family.

This not just a love story..it was more than a love story.. its story of dreams that we need to see how far we can go and nothing can stop us even love. And i salute all Filipinos who works hard and conquered other countries for their families. WE ABSOLUTELY NEED A SECOND PART IN THIS ONE. I don't really into in Filipino movies it was my first local movie i watched in 2019.

I would love to watch this over and over again. i Love the film all in general. i was so speechless, so please help your self to witness this Movie. it's not your typical love story but it was a real life of an ofw that working hard.

Breathe of freshness on screen, we've been served with a platter of good offering, AR's gentleman antics and KB's toughness and complexity complements each other's character just right, a movie that highlights the life,pain and sufferings of filipino working abroad especially Hongkong an eye opener about the common misconceptions about the life of our modern day heroes the brave ofws. Another masterpiece from direct Cathy Garcia Molina for mixing out the reality of life abroad, stories of risk-takers the dreamers sacrifice & selfless love.

As far as the film's story goes, it has so much potential. It depicts a few of the many instances of what OFWs experience while working abroad. But the way Cathy Garcia-Molina presented the story was too mediocre.

Their choice to cast Alden and Kathryn was bad. There isn't any chemistry between them. The chemistry happened between the viewers and Alden/Kathryn, but not between the characters themselves.

Alden's character was unrefined. His acting was subpar. His smile is problematic. Instead of conveying something that relates to being hurt or having a struggle, it becomes out of place and sometimes creepy.

The camera shots were out of place. It felt like the production team were trying to show off their drone shots even when it would have been better to just use a simple wide shot. Close-ups were not utilized properly.

The script contained the typical "hugot" lines. At the same time, the film contained at least 30 minutes of pure exposition. It became a film of telling rather than showing.

I haven't talked about the problems with the other casts. But overall, the film was purely a waste of time. I would have felt better if I just watched the film "Anak" with the other OFWs in one of the film's scenes.

Oh they went deeeeeppp.

This isnt just one of those sappy romance stories, no, it covers real-life topics (i assume) about Filipinos foreign workers, immigration etc. I gotta admit that i never really think twice about these things but this movie makes me feel the pain! We just gotta be grateful of choices we have in life - some people have it harder.

Now, Kathryn (Joy) is such an amazing actress! I can almost relate to everything shes going through in the movie. And oh, prepare tissues cause youre gonna need em.

P/s: Low-key Hong Kong Tourism ad done right. lol

This is by far the best Filipino movie of 2019. And one of the best of all time. There's no waste or boring moment. This movie sets the new benchmark for Filipino movie. A must watch and highly recommended. 👍