In a movie season dominated by blockbuster action movies in North America, it is a welcome breather to see refreshing counterprogramming. Once in a while, a brief brainy break or a unique cinematic work presents itself as an alternative to regular summer fare.

In the case of Every Breath U Take, the latest of Star Cinema’s 19th anniversary offerings, moviegoers have a chance to savor a refreshingly new pairing in Piolo Pascual and Angelica Panganiban – two superstars known for their incredibly good looks and serious acting chops. Throw in the mix stellar director Mae Czarina Cruz, who megged the Sarah Geronimo-Gerald Anderson starrer, Catch Me… I’m in Love (2011), and Anne Curtis-Sam Milby’s Babe, I Love You (2010) blockbusters, and you have a very promising film at hand.

This June, TFC brings this exciting romantic comedy to four cities in Canada: Winnipeg, Manitoba; Vancouver, British Columbia; Mississauga and Scarborough in Ontario.

The story itself is contemporary and straightforward: Majoy (Panganiban) is a woman running out of time: her biological clock is tick-tocking and according to her doctor, her ovaries are “drying up”. Uninitiated in physical intimacy, she nervously but desperately goes out on a manhunt because she dreams of having a family one day.

Superstitious, Majoy has used as criteria a set of signs to determine her true love which leads her to Leo (Pascual), a career-driven playboy who believes love will never be a priority for him. But the signs Majoy is looking for all point to Leo! Can she do what it takes to make him believe that they are fated to be together? But what about the mysterious characters who are bent at ruining their budding relationship?

The simplicity of the storyline gets its layers of texture from the enthusiastic and charming performances of the cast led by Pascual and Panganiban. The Pollyannaish energy of Panganiban is contagious, making people believe the character’s innocence (or naiveté) even in the face of a woman’s race against time. Pascual is perfectly cast as Leo, the slick, smooth seducer who breaks Majoy’s inhibitions to pave the way for conquest but finds himself emotionally drawn to her.

Can the couple with different agenda in life actually end up happily ever after?

“If you look at movie theatres today, what you see are action, adventure, sci-fi, fantasy, animation, horror or a mixture of these. We need to realize that there is a market that looks for movie fare that does not involve explosions and human body count. For our teleserye-loving folks, we believe that a Filipino romantic comedy that stars top TFC celebrities like Piolo and Angelica would be a welcome and relaxing counterpoint,” said TFC Canada Managing Director Marco Amoranto.

Catch Every Breath U Take in Winnipeg, June 1-14, 2012:

Cineplex Northgate Winnipeg. 1399 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg MB, R2V 3C4 (204) 334-6234.