Ang Henerasyong Sumuko sa Love (English: The Generation That Gave Up on Love) is a 2019 film from the Philippines. It follows a tight-knit group of millennials navigating life and friendship as they gradually transition into adulthood.
The Ensemble Cast features Jane Oineza as Ma-an; Tony Labrusca as Kurt; Myrtle Sarrosa as Junamae; Albie Casiño as Hadji; and Jerome Ponce as Denzel. It was released on October 2, 2019 and directed and written by Jason Laxamana.
This film provides examples of:
- Always Someone Better: Rachelle to Ma-an. The former is now dating Ma-an's ex-boyfriend whom she still has feelings for, and has more subscribers on YouTube just because of Fanservice. When Ma-an finally one-ups her subscriber count, Rachelle snags the starring role in a glamorous perfume commercial.
- Be Yourself: Where Ma-an's storyline inevitably lands her.
- Brainy Brunette: Junamae. She spouts off a lot of wise advice. One way she's depicted bonding with her maybe-boyfriend Hadji is by eloquently reciting science facts to him, who's more clueless.
- Childhood Friends: Ma-an, Kurt, Junamae, Hadji, and Denzel.
- Commitment Issues: Denzel. He repeatedly tells his boy toys that he's "busy" (or that he's "on a tight budget" when the other man invites him to a date at the mall). One of them calls him out on it, asking if sleeping around is a hobby for him.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: One of Junamae's bosses tries to get her to sleep with him in exchange for money. She rebuffs him hard.
- Fanservice: Lots of action among attractive young people happens onscreen, both heterosexual and same-sex.
- Handsome Lech: Denzel is a gay version. He really knows how to turn on the charm and is shown strategically pursuing a bunch of more innocent guys who usually form some attachment to him. He, on the other hand, has Commitment Issues and instantly bolts.
- Hotter and Sexier: A self-imposed change in Ma-an. She's good-looking even before her makeover, but has a Girl Next Door look that isn't nearly as effective at gaining followers than the sexy and glamorous Rachel's style.
- I Don't Want to Ruin Our Friendship: Kurt to Ma-an. This is why he refuses to date her even after it becomes undeniable that they're attracted to each other. He says as much.
- Open-Minded Parent: Denzel is an out-and-proud gay guy. His father is completely okay with it, encouraging him to settle down, but not with a woman — he just hopes his son gets married and doesn't care that it's going to be with another man.
- Make-Out Kids: Hadji and Junamae have a healthy sex life, to say the least.
- Narcissist: Denzel's open about the fact that he's in love with Wesley, but cites "He's not perfect" as the reason he's reluctant to make things official with him. On the other hand, Denzel views himself as close to perfect as possible.
- Sickeningly Sweethearts: Junamae and Hadji are apparently stuck in their own little world. Hadji insists that everybody is fine with their relationship, but Junamae is self-conscious about it.
- Stepford Smiler: Downplayed with Junamae. She isn't super depressed or anything, but she mentions that her face hurts from fake-smiling at a work event. It's just part of her job.
- Straight Gay:
- Played With. The way Denzel talks and acts is pretty typical of a Camp Gay man in the Philippines, but his physical appearance and clothes are traditionally masculine enough that he passes for straight when he adopts a less campy demeanor. It's demonstrated in his first meeting with Wes.
- A more direct example is Wes. When Denzel finally reveals his sexuality to Wes, the latter tells him "he's not that kind of person." Denzel is mortified, but Wes explains he just doesn't like one-night stands. It's not a case of Incompatible Orientation.
- Team Dad: Kurt. His friends call him "Papa Kurt" because of this.
- Thinks Like a Romance Novel: Hadji is a Rare Male Example. He can't call Junamae his girlfriend because she doesn't want to slap a label on their relationship, even though they've literally moved in together and frequently have sex. He wants a more traditional romance, and the fact that he deals with a lot of romance fiction at work doesn't help. (He does subtitles. A bulk of the stuff he transcribes or translates are romantic flicks.)
- Unrequited Love Switcheroo: Downplayed with Denzel and Wes. They're both in love, but Denzel doesn't want to make things official between them because he's afraid Wes isn't good enough for him. However, when Denzel decides he's worth it, Wes discloses that he'd prefer to have an open, polyamorous relationship. This causes Denzel's possessiveness to jump out.
- The Workaholic:
- Kurt. Ironically, the pact for him and his Childhood Friends to regularly meet up even as time goes by was his idea, but he's the one who struggles to fulfill it the most due to how constantly overworked he is.
- Denzel as well, although he has a considerably more active social life than Kurt. He even flip-flops on a romance that seems to be flourishing perfectly because he wanted to achieve everything before 30.
