Premiering online on March 31, TBA Studio’s newest romantic film Dito at Doon pairs JC Santos with Janine Gutierrez for the first time in what initially looks like your usual girl-meets-boy, girl-hates-boy, they -fall-in-love scenario. In the story written by Alex Gonzales and Kristin Barrameda, Janine is headstrong grad student and no-boyfriend-since-birth Len Esguerra while JC is the family breadwinner working as a delivery rider named Carlo Cabahug, aka Cabs, who crosses paths with her online during the start of the ECQ last year.

Even though their first random interaction online was anything but romantic, Len and Cabs eventually find themselves getting closer through the power of virtual communication. Janine is a natural as the opinionated and unapologetic Len, someone who won’t mince words once you get on her bad side. Art imitates real life as Janine’s real-life mom Lotlot de Leon plays her single parent tirelessly working as frontliner every day, which causes friction in their relationship at home.

JC Santos once again brings his brand of down-to-earth charm in this film. His role as Cabs is shown as an uncomplicated, hardworking guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, and will sacrifice his own ego just to keep the peace, which is the total opposite of Len. Playing Len’s best friends are Yesh Burce and Victor Anastacio, who continually call her out on her stubborn and sometimes self-absorbed ways with their light and funny banter that every barkada can relate to. Through their group’s daily online Zoom sessions, Len becomes aware, not just with how lonely she feels, but also why she is still alone all this time.

As an untested pairing, JC and Janine are good at showing the uncertainty of a potential relationship and with the ongoing ECQ in the film, the hurdle to bridge the huge differences in their personalities become even more apparent. If there is anything Dito at Doon aims to prove, it is that lockdown situation or not, finding love is never going to be easy.

READ: ‘Dito at Doon’ to have world premiere at Osaka film fest

Directed by I’m Drunk I Love You director JP Habac, it is also worth noting that music for Dito at Doon was done by another known director and award-winning musical scorer Jerrold Tarog, who sets the right mood for each scene with different local songs.

Dito at Doon starts streaming on March 31 through KTX, iWantTFC, Cinema76@Home, and Ticket2Me. Avail of the early bird rate (with P50 off) by pre-ordering for only P300.