Why ‘Ang Pambansang Third Wheel’ Is A Must-See

We’ve got it, level unlocked! VIVA Films and The Idea First Company are bringing us a movie for singles and third wheels. “Ang Pambansang Third Wheel” will be starring Yassi Pressman (Trina) a receptionist turned copywriter in an advertising agency and Sam Milby (Neo), an art director who is paired up with Trina in an advertising project.

By the looks of its trailer (watch below), it seems like this is another installation of VIVA Films’ ‘hugot’ movies. But director Ivan Andrew Payawal says otherwise. In an interview with Malaya, he said that he feels the audiences, in general, have ‘wizened up’ and Filipinos are after a movie’s story and not the ‘hugot’ lines.

Ang Pambansang Third Wheel, Things to look forward to

#SoooooRelatable

Single/third wheel or not, ‘Ang Pambansang Third Wheel’s’ promising, funny dialogues and the reaction of actors will make you say #RelateMuch. Hopeless romantic? Get ready to say ‘Trina is me’ as Trina in the movie is a hopeless romantic kind of girl. As the director teased, Trina will want to be Neo’s priority but since there’s a Murphy between them, she has to adjust (yeah, #relatemuch). As mentioned above, Trina believes that every person is destined to meet “the one” he/she will be spending forever with. Trina’s quest to find ‘the one’ destined for her will surely be engaging for the singles who are looking for their ‘the one,’ too. 

Yassi Pressman’s Character

The story revolves around the character of Trina, who is a hopeless romantic woman and believer of destiny. She’s in her 30s and had her heart broken thrice before she met Neo. Neo has something which Trina saw and compels her to break down the wall she’s built to protect her heart. Right when Trina could actually say that she’s not a third wheel anymore, a plot twist in her love story came in the form of Murphy (Alonzo Muhlach), the attention-seeking son of Neo and Monica (Sam Pinto), Neo’s ex-wife. While the scenario ‘devastates’ Trina, will she ever feel that she’s the only one?

‘Ang Pambansang Third Wheel’ is not your typical romance movie

Sure there are lots of ‘hugot’ lines in this movie and the typical boy meets the girl story. But, director Ivan Andrew Payawal said that this is not your typical romance movie. He admitted that the movie was inspired by real events, based on his and his circle of thirty-something single friends’ long experience of being a third wheel – “since college.”

“Actually may mga lines na narinig kong sinabi nila… kaya baka i-unfriend nila ako [‘pag napanuod na nila ang pelikula],” he said.

He also said that this isn’t an ordinary romantic-comedy movie. It’s more than a love story as it is also about family, especially a single parent. “Sakop nito ‘yung genre na family drama, kasi may kurot ito sa puso na hinahanap ng mga tao. Ako rin, as a viewer, lumaki rin ako sa rom-com, pero gusto ko nakaka-relate ako,” he said.

Sam Milby and Yassi Pressman’s ‘fresh’ screen chemistry

We did fail to see this on their previous project together, “Camp Sawi,” but the chemistry between Sam and Yassi are so fresh that will make you believe this movie is not just like your typical rom-com movie. The new love team may not bring you nostalgia and remind you of the previous rom-com movie hits in the country but it’s undeniable that the two have palpable screen attraction between them.

Plus: Neo’s (Sam) innocent abssssss (*screams internally*)

In the movie trailer first released on Jan 29, a scene where Neo is washing his car while topless rattled Trina (perhaps Yassi, too because who wouldn’t?). In the scene, Trina was walking along the subdivision when she saw Neo car-washing by the road. He accidentally splashed water on her while she’s silently watching him. Neo apologized right away. Trina then said that he can’t be half naked outside his house. Neo then asked her if his abs did something wrong to her and Trina just answered (in a relatable manner), ‘Papansin eh!’

‘Ang Pambansang Third Wheel’ starring Yassi Pressman and Sam Milby hit theaters nationwide on March 7.