Few love teams in Philippine cinema have stood the test of time quite like Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal. From their heyday in the late 1990s and early 2000s, their tandem, fondly known as MarJo, became household names through their hit movies and TV shows such as 'Labs Kita... Okey Ka Lang?' (1998), 'Hey Babe' (1999) and 'Gimik' (1999), among many others.Their onscreen chemistry was effortless — equal parts kilig (swoon) and comedy — that made them relatable to their fans. In fact, their dialogues from these films became iconic, even referenced in workshops for young actors today.During the media conference for their anticipated reunion film, 'Ex Ex Lovers,' Agustin and Magdangal reflected on their impact that even the new generation look up to.Agustin shared how touching it is to hear songs that mention their names, see stories and films seemingly inspired by their past work, and learn that their lines are still used in acting workshops.'We never expected that what we did back then, when we were just kids and it felt like we were just playing, would turn out to be meaningful and become a beautiful part of the film industry in terms of performance,' Agustin shared.Agustin admitted that there was some pressure that came with this popularity, which may have been why it took them a while to finally agree to make a reunion movie.'We didn't want to force it — we wanted a film that, in some way, would be on par with the ones we made before. Not just a great story, but something that truly connects with the hearts of the audience. That's why I can say that this movie will make people fall in love again with the Marvin and Jolina they grew up with since the '90s,' he continued.Magdangal echoed this sentiment, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support of fans who have stayed with them since the beginning.'I guess our energy just bounces off each other onscreen. Even I still get kilig with our love team. And even though we've gone our separate ways in life — Marvin with his restaurant business and me with my own projects — we never had any fights or conflicts, which is why there will always be 'MarJo' and there will always be Marvin and Jolina. When you truly love the industry, it gives back to you in beautiful ways,' she said.Unlike many onscreen couples who fell out after real-life relationships ended, MarJo's bond remained intact. According to them, their romantic connection — though never confirmed with an official label — might have been the secret to their enduring chemistry.'Back then, when we were young, labels were different. Mutual Understanding, or MU, was common at the time — so in a way, we were like that. Since we had both a personal and professional relationship back then, maybe that's why the magic remains,' explained Agustin.He also pointed out that artists who were in real relationships often struggle to reunite on-screen because their love and conflicts were too intense.'Maybe we got this chance because our relationship was just right — enough to create a strong bond. And our comeback didn't have to wait until we were grandparents,' the 46-year-old laughed.Magdangal agreed, adding, 'Back then, we used to have little fights, but after we stopped working together, every time we saw each other, we would just catch up and share stories. It was only during our first time working together that we had those small arguments.'Fans had long awaited their reunion, and finally, 'Ex Ex Lovers' brings Agustin and Magadangal back to where audiences first fell in love with them — the romantic comedy genre.Director JP Habac and screenwriter Kristine Gabriel revealed the project had been in the works since 2019, but it wasn't until after the pandemic that producer Antoinette Jadaone and her team revisited the idea with a fresh perspective.Shot partially in picturesque Malta, 'Ex Ex Lovers' asks the question: Can old love have a second chance?The story begins when SC (Loisa Andalio) asks her mother, Joy (Magdangal), to bring her estranged father, Ced (Agustin), home from Europe for her wedding.Setting aside years of anger and unresolved feelings, Joy heads to Malta, delaying the wedding and reconnecting with Ced. Along the way, Joy unexpectedly rediscovers her own feelings for Ced — all while scheming against SC and her fiancé, Joey (JK Labajo).The film highlights themes of forgiveness, rekindling old love, and the complexities of family relationships.Interestingly, 'Ex Ex Lovers' was initially slated for streaming, but after a heartfelt discussion between the OG love team and the producers, they decided it deserved a theatrical release.'It's a once-in-a-lifetime reunion that has to be experienced on the big screen,' shared Jadaone.Produced by Project 8 Projects in association with Cornerstone Entertainment and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, catch 'Ex Ex Lovers' in theaters nationwide beginning Feb. 12.
