The story isn’t really just about love—it’s about the complications, the negotiations that come with it, and the work of choosing someone, over and over again.
Love isn’t always about grand gestures and sweeping declarations. Sometimes, it’s the quiet persistence of choosing the same person every day… even when they annoy you. Everything About My Wife, the latest romantic comedy starring real-life couple Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado, alongside Sam Milby, explores what happens when the spark of romance is buried under daily frustrations.
The premise is simple but layered: Dom (Dennis Trillo) is fed up with his wife Imogen (Jennylyn Mercado) and, rather than confronting his feelings head-on, he hires a charming third party (Sam Milby’s Miguel) to seduce her. It’s the kind of setup that could play out in a thousand different ways: absurd, heartfelt, tragic. The actors, however, ground the story in a level of realism that feels both frustrating and familiar. As Dennis himself puts it, “Bago ka gumawa ng isang major, major decision, siguraduhin mo na hindi mo pagsisisihan.”
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A familiar yet distinct adaptation
This Filipino version of Everything About My Wife is adapted from the 2008 Argentinian film Un Novio Para Mi Mujer, which was later remade in South Korea in 2012. Director Real Florido reveals that their adaptation drew more from the Korean version. “The original was about divorce, but that’s not a thing here. We made sure the film was about commitment, how, in our culture, marriage is something we fight for.”
While the core premise remains the same, the Filipino adaptation is tailored to reflect the nuances of Filipino relationships. “We made sure it felt like a Filipino story. Hindi mo lang pinapanood, pero parang kilala mo ‘yung mga characters,” Florido explains.
In an exclusive one-on-one interview with The POST, Dennis, who portrays Dom, found himself relating deeply to the character’s predicament. “Napaka-importante na makilala mo ‘yung tao na pakikisamahan mo habang buhay. Mahirap kung meron kang madidiskubre na hindi mo gusto bago kayo magpakasal.” His insight reflects how Filipino marriages often prioritize endurance and understanding rather than immediate confrontation.
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Characters that cut close to reality
Dennis’s Dom is not the usual rom-com lead. He is unsure, indecisive, and resorts to an elaborate (some might say cowardly) plan to avoid a difficult conversation with his wife. It’s a character choice that feels rooted in real human behavior: how often do we avoid confrontation rather than deal with discomfort? Dennis himself reflects on Dom’s struggles: “Dahil doon sa desperation niya, doon sa sitwasyon niya sa asawa niya, parang kung anu-ano ‘yung mga naiisip niya na gawin, pero hindi niya naisip ‘yung mga consequences.”
Meanwhile, Jennylyn’s Imogen is sharp-tongued and unfiltered. She isn’t written to be the effortless, charming wife who just happens to be difficult. She is actively, knowingly difficult. Jennylyn understands this about her character, saying, “Napaka-nagger niya, wala siyang filter. Maganda na pinag-iisipan niya muna lahat bago siya magsalita.” She acknowledges that Imogen’s bluntness can be hurtful, even if it comes from a place of honesty. “Minsan, ‘yung mga sinasabi niya, kahit totoo, masakit pa rin pakinggan. Dapat siguro natutunan niyang mag-filter ng konti.”
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Then there’s Sam’s Miguel, a man who has given up on love. “He doesn’t believe in marriage anymore,” Milby says of his character. “It’s not your typical third-party situation where someone just swoops in to steal a partner. It’s more complicated than that.” This nuance in Miguel’s character keeps the film from becoming a simple morality play.
The reality of long-term relationships
Everything About My Wife attempts to break down the fantasy of love while still making us root for it. The film recognizes that relationships are not made up of grand, sweeping moments but of small choices made every day. Jennylyn, reflecting on her own experiences, shares: “Huwag kayong matutulog nang magkagalit. Laging dapat inaayos niyo lahat bago kayo matulog nang mahimbing.” Dennis adds another dimension: “Alamin kung ano ‘yung nangyari sa kaniya. Alamin [mo] kung kailan ‘yung mga mood [swings] niya.”
For Dennis and Jennylyn, marriage took on a deeper meaning once they became parents. “Siguro hindi naging mahirap kasi nung nagkaroon na kami ng family, parang gusto namin maging role models dun sa mga maliliit namin. And sa tingin ko, pag nandoon ka na sa mindset na ‘yun, nandoon ka na sa stage na ‘yun, parang mas magiging maayos na lahat kasi wala ka nang ibang gustong gawin kundi pamarisan ka nung mga susunod sa’yo,” Dennis shares.
Sam Milby, echoing this sentiment, has come to believe in the active nature of love: “Love is a choice. Kahit anong nangyayari sa buhay niyo, kahit anong pinagdaanan niyo… I’m choosing you everyday of my life. I don’t care if there’s temptation. I don’t care kung anong pinagdadaanan natin, I don’t care kung may away tayo ngayon. I still choose you.” It’s a sentiment that is often easier said than done, but the film seems interested in showing what that choice really looks like in practice.
One of the film’s most thought-provoking lines: “Nangako tayo na for better or for worse, pero sumuko ka at our worst” cuts to the heart of its message. It’s easy to commit when things are good, but true love (especially in marriage) is tested in the worst moments. As Jennylyn notes, “Importante na magawa niyo ‘yun nang magkasama kayo, magkasama kayong dalawa. Hindi natatapos ‘yung mga problema kasi palagi namang magkakaroon ng problema.”
Why this story might feel personal
The film asks difficult questions about relationships: When does irritation become resentment? When does familiarity become suffocating? And most importantly, when is staying the right choice?
Dennis sums it up the best way: “Mahalaga na makilala mo ‘yung tao na pakikisamahan mo habang buhay. Kasi kapag hindi mo alam ‘yung mga ‘yun, ‘yun ‘yung unang-unang pinagmumulan ng problema.”
Sam, reflecting on his own perspective, adds, “There will always be challenges. There will always be things that test you. But at the end of the day, it’s about making the decision, every day, to stay.”
For those expecting a simple rom-com, Everything About My Wife might surprise us. The story isn’t really just about love, it’s about the complications, the negotiations that come with it and the work of choosing someone, over and over again.
And perhaps that’s the most honest love story of all.
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Everything About My Wife is showing in cinemas on February 26, 2025
Images courtesy of CreaZion Studios
