‘Sana si Daniel na lang ang itinambal kay Maine para…it’s a tie!

WITH a risqué kind of approach, sa departamento ito kapuri-puri ang ABS-CBN.

While its rival network—ang GMA—is quite cautious in taking risks ay sa aspetong ito naman ayaw paawat ang Dos.

Its business strategy has always been one of taking chances, in terms of projects, partnerships, etc. it alone is willing to gamble.

Kung pumatok, well and good. If it falls short of the network’s expectations, so be it. But ABS-CBN won’t give up.

The station’s hit-or-miss, make-or-break principle is what actually propels it to a whole world of discovery, directing it to the road less traveled.

Wala rin itong inilayo sa Star Cinema, its film arm. History tells us that Star Cinema has had its share, too, of films na hindi gaanong pumatok sa takilya. Blame it on a number of indicators.

Presently, ang pagtatambal nina Kathryn Bernardo at Alden Richards aptly fits the description of what an ambitious project is like.

“Imported” si Alden, a virtual alien in a territory na sakop ng Star Cinema. But of course, there’s such a thing as crossing boundaries.

Kung pagbabasehan ang mga comments sa trailer pa lang ng kanilang pelikula, it forebodes a favorable box-office success. And the indicators are obviously present.

One of the hottest young female stars si Kathryn among all celebrities put together. Samantalang in his own turf ay isang napakalaking bituin ni Alden.

Star Cinema has only proven na hindi imposibleng pagsamahin ang dalawang bigating artists who belong to two different, warring worlds. And it’s a project without any compromises.

Kung pasok sa banga para sa marami ang Kathryn-Alden tandem, this cannot be said of the project na pagsasamahan nina Carlo Aquino at Maine Mendoza.

Odd pairing that it is, parang wala itong spark kundi man wala talaga.

Hyperbole as this may sound, even the self-proclaimed showbiz scholars will have to burn the proverbial midnight oil coming up with believable publicity slants para maibenta lang ang kanilang tambalan.

Just like Alden, Maine reigns supreme in her kingdom. Pero hanggang doon lang siya, a step farther will have her deal with the raging competition based on sophistication and real talent.

Meanwhile, Carlo is one helluva thespic gem. Malalim. Mahusay.

Pero hindi lahat ng magagaling enjoy near-superstar status, in much the same way na ang mga pinakasikat ay hindi rin masasabing magagaling.

Besides, si Carlo ang uri ng leading man material na hindi namin maiisip agad bilang kapareha ni Maine.

Yes, he’s no top-of-mind choice to be honest.

But he can be an asset to Maine to be able to boost and bring out the best in her.

Sa hanay ng mga Star Cinema artists, nariyan sina Daniel Padilla (had the film company wanted to aim for ‘switching’ after pairing Kathryn with Alden), James Reid at Enrique Gil.

Kung wala man sa mga nabanggit fits to a T, napakadaling hanapan ‘yon ng solusyon. Then who?

Eh, si Arjo Atayde na lang sana. Oh, that would be art imitating life dahil may something naman sina Arjo at Maine sa tunay na buhay.

At kung dito nakaangkla ang premise, it’s already a pre-sold commodity tulad ng bigas na mabibili’t mabibili kahit walang patalastas. But of course, Star Cinema—as always—invites risks.