My Best Friend's Girlfriend: Meet Evo

Would you fall for a guy who has all the traits you detest? Who makes it clear from the start that you are not his type and will never be? What if that guy is Richard Gutierrez? Breaking barriers “It’s a complicated story of friendship," Richard starts off, adding that My Best Friend’s Girlfriend (BFGF) is also a story of love, and how it can affect friendships. “The bottom line is how love can break barriers. Minsan may masasagasaan kayong tao, minsan may masasaktan, but love will [prevail]." Richard plays Evo [“You’ll find out why when you watch the movie!"] in BFGF -- a rich, mapilyo, and spoiled college graduate who doesn’t know what to do with his life. “Happy go lucky lang siya sa buhay – even with his relationships with his friends, his girlfriends. Until he meets an unexpected girl in his life, which is Grace (Marian Rivera)." “It was unexpected, because alam ko na hindi ako mai-in love kay Marian. So I asked her to pretend to be my girlfriend para pag selosin yung ex-GF ko (Ehra Madrigal). That’s the whole gist of the story. So I paid Marian, she’s a working student struggling [to make ends meet], and I’m a lost rich kid. Then suddenly I fall in love." Evo is different from Richard’s past portrayals mainly because this time, he’s not a perfect gentleman. “Iba yung pag-trato niya sa babae. Hindi siya yung typical Filipino, kung paano magmahal ang Pinoy sa isang babae sa simula. Mare-realize niya [lang] ang meaning of true love pag-na meet niya na yung character ni Marian." Richard shares that there are a lot of surprising traits in Evo’s character which makes it more exciting to play. “Siya yung iisipin mong bad guy na parang mapilyo, maraming chicks, happy go lucky, pero deep down inside, he wants to lead a good life." The fourth time around BFGF is actually Richard’s fourth Valentine movie -- but his first with a different leading lady. The first three flicks have been with former GMA contract artist Angel Locsin. His Valentine movie streak started in 2005 with Let the Love Begin, followed by I Will Always Love You in 2006, and then The Promise in 2007. How is it like to be working with a new girl? “She’s very simple, very relaxed, and she’s easy to get along with. Maganda yung first scene na ginawa namin, and I can say that onscreen, we have good chemistry." He adds, “This is more of a mature romantic comedy for me, and it’s different from my roles in [the past]. Even though it’s comedy, it’s a situational comedy. And siguro the main thing about this movie is this is the first time I’ll be working with Marian. That’s totally new for me, for the audience; for everyone. It’s my first movie with Direk Mark (Reyes) [too], so you know, [there are] a lot of firsts in this movie and may growth para sa akin dito." Working with the cast “Working with Marian, I didn’t expect that it would be as fun as it is," says Richard. “[Pero] talagang enjoy kami sa trabaho namin, and right from the start, magkasundo na kaagad kami, and relaxed lang yung shooting namin. We enjoyed every minute of it." It’s Richard’s second time to work with Ehra, their last project being the hit action series Lupin. “It’s always great working with her, and now that she’s growing as an artist, she’s tackling different roles, I’m happy for her, and I see her growth. So masarap yung trabaho namin ngayon kasi iba na naman yung character niya. It’s a new challenge for her, and I’m happy to be part of that." JC de Vera, on the other hand, has been working with Richard since his Sugo (2005) days. One of the most memorable team-ups of the two was in Mars Ravelo’s Captain Barbell (2006), where JC played Richard’s younger brother. “JC and I really never lost touch you know, because we see each other and we’ve been friends for a long time," says Richard. “It’s great working with JC and I see his improvement as an actor and he’s becoming serious with his craft. So that’s a very good thing, a very positive thing for him and it makes my work exciting also. ‘Cos I saw JC from the beginning and now I see him as a more mature actor, so it’s good." A deeper message Albeit a romantic comedy, BFGF actually has an important message beneath its light façade. “The message is simple," explains Richard. “When you fall in love with someone, and when you get to know the soul of the person, all barriers will break down. Hindi niyo na alam kung ano ang tama o mali. Ang alam niyo lang, mahal niyo ang isa’t-isa and you guys have a common bond, a common understanding. And for me, that’s what’s important in a relationship. And yun ang papakita namin dito sa pelikula." Intrigued, we asked if he has already experienced something like that. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally gives in: “I think so." - iGMA.tv