Marvin Agustin
Ced
Overview
Joy travels to Valletta, Malta, to reunite with her ex-partner Ced, aiming to ask him to walk their daughter down the aisle, as per her request. However, their complicated past and unresolved issues lead to comedic and heartfelt moments as they navigate their rekindled interactions.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Past Isn’t Through With Us
I didn’t expect to laugh so hard at a scene where two middle-aged exes argue over who gets to keep the toaster. But there it was, in Ex Ex Lovers, a moment so mundane and so real that it cut through the film’s layers of nostalgia like a knife through day-old pandesal. Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal, once the golden couple of Philippine cinema, are back onscreen together after more than two decades, and the result is equal parts comforting and unsettling—a rom-com that knows it’s walking a tightrope between fan service and something more honest.
The premise is simple: Joy (Magdangal) drags her ex-husband Ced (Agustin) to Malta to convince him to walk their daughter down the aisle. What follows is a series of misadventures that oscillate between slapstick and soul-searching, all set against the sun-bleached backdrop of Valletta’s cobblestone streets. Director JP Habac, who cut his teeth on the bittersweet I’m Drunk, I Love You, doesn’t just lean into the nostalgia—he weaponizes it.
The film is littered with callbacks to Labs Kita… Okey Ka Lang? and Hey Babe!, from throwaway lines to visual gags, but the real trick is how it uses those references not as crutches, but as emotional shorthand. When Ced mimics a line from their old movie, it’s not just a wink to the audience; it’s a reminder of how much these two have carried their past into the present.
That’s where Ex Ex Lovers gets interesting. Rom-coms usually traffic in the fantasy of closure—the big gesture, the tearful reunion, the promise of a fresh start. But Habac and co-writers Antoinette Jadaone and Kristine Gabriel are more interested in the messiness of what comes after.
The film’s best scenes aren’t the ones where Joy and Ced bicker like an old married couple (though those are fun), but the quiet moments where they’re forced to confront the fact that they don’t actually know each other anymore. In one standout sequence, Ced watches Joy from across a café, her face lit by the glow of her phone, and the look on his face is one of pure bewilderment.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.0/10
"A lighthearted romantic comedy that charms with nostalgia but struggles to stand out from familiar tropes."
The film’s appeal lies in its nostalgic pairing of Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal, whose chemistry evokes fond memories for longtime fans. However, the story’s reliance on well-worn romantic comedy formulas and a lack of depth in supporting characters leaves many wanting more originality or emotional weight.
What viewers praise
- Nostalgic lead pairing Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal’s reunion is a major draw, with their on-screen chemistry resonating strongly with audiences who grew up watching them.
- Lighthearted tone The film’s breezy, feel-good approach makes it an easy watch for fans of romantic comedies.
- Malta setting The picturesque European backdrop adds a fresh visual element to the story.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows familiar romantic comedy tropes without enough twists to feel fresh or surprising.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, including the younger couple played by Juan Karlos Labajo and Loisa Andalio, lack depth and feel like afterthoughts.
- Lack of emotional depth While fun, the film doesn’t delve deeply into the complexities of rekindled relationships, leaving some viewers wanting more substance.
Recommended for
Romantic comedy fans Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal fans Nostalgic Filipino cinema lovers Lighthearted movie seekers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsReuniting Legends: The Making of Ex Ex Lovers (2025)
The Philippine rom-com scene just got a major throwback with Ex Ex Lovers, the 2025 film reuniting real-life ex-couple Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal onscreen for the first time in decades. Directed by JP Habac and penned by Antoinette Jadaone and Kristine Gabriel, the movie isn’t just a nostalgia trip—it’s a full-circle moment for Filipino cinema’s golden era of love stories.
A Screen Reunion 20 Years in the Making
Agustin and Magdangal, who were one of the most iconic on-and-off-screen pairs of the late '90s and early 2000s, last starred together in Labs Kita… Okey Ka Lang? (1998). Their chemistry was electric, but their real-life romance fizzled out long before Ex Ex Lovers was even a concept. Now, nearly 30 years later, they’re back as ex-spouses Joy and Ced, navigating co-parenting, second chances, and the chaos of their daughter’s engagement in Malta 
.
The film’s premise—Joy dragging Ced to Malta to convince him to walk their daughter down the aisle—sounds like classic rom-com chaos, but the stakes feel personal. Habac and Jadaone, who previously collaborated on I’m Drunk, I Love You (2017), are no strangers to messy, heartfelt love stories. This time, they’re leaning into the awkward, funny, and bittersweet dynamics of exes forced into close quarters .
The Cast: A Mix of Veterans and Rising Stars
While Agustin and Magdangal are the obvious headliners, Ex Ex Lovers packs a stacked supporting cast. Juan Karlos Labajo and Loisa Andalio play the younger generation, adding fresh energy to the story. Meanwhile, veterans like Judy Ann Santos, Mylene Dizon, and Soliman Cruz bring depth to the ensemble, hinting at a family dynamic that’s more complicated than just two exes rekindling old flames [1][4].
One standout detail? The film’s Malta setting. The Mediterranean backdrop isn’t just for aesthetics—it’s where Joy and Ced’s unresolved history bubbles to the surface, turning a simple wedding trip into a minefield of emotions .
Behind the Scenes: Nostalgia or Risk?
Reuniting exes onscreen is always a gamble, but Habac and Jadaone seem to be playing it smart. The film isn’t just banking on nostalgia; it’s using the actors’ real-life history to add authenticity to their characters’ tension. Early reviews suggest the chemistry is still there, though whether it’s romantic or just plain awkward remains part of the fun [3].
There’s also the question of whether Ex Ex Lovers can stand out in a rom-com landscape that’s moved on from the formulaic plots of the 2000s. Habac’s direction and Jadaone’s sharp writing might be the key—if they can balance humor with genuine emotion, this could be more than just a reunion project [3].
What’s Next?
As of now, Ex Ex Lovers is generating buzz for its cast and premise, but details on its release date and reception are still under wraps. If the trailers deliver on the promise of Agustin and Magdangal’s chemistry, this could be the rom-com event of the year—or at least a fun throwback for fans who grew up watching them.
For now, the biggest question remains: Will audiences buy these two as exes with unfinished business, or is the magic of their real-life past too big to ignore?
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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