When I first learned about this film's existence, I was already excited for it, partly because it was shot in the school where I studied for elementary (well, I actually studied in it's branch, but anyway) and where my brothers studied for pre-school until their Senior Year in high school. I first found out about this through my friend Francis' praises (because the actors were his friends and it was shot in his school) and later on through tumblr.

Basically, Senior Year tackles about the reminiscing of the rigors of the last few months in high school of Henry, the valedictorian and his pains in doing his speech and juggling them between various activities as forces to make himself attend their high school reunion. The cast was composed by his classmates who make the story much more colorful. There's Solenn, the quintessential it-girl, Bridget, the simple girl who was played on by Briggs, the resident playboy of the batch. Sofia was a shy girl but later on, she blossomed to be a chick, thanks to Solenn, and she was Henry's secret crush. There were other notable characters such as Carlo, the outspoken soft guy, Steph, Bunda, Mitch, Chito and the teachers. This senior batch was said to be a little torn and disorganized, and this film showed why they were said to be like that.

So here goes the "review".

Despite its shallow nature, I actually found it very nice because it was able to make me, already an incoming college sophomore, the goosebumps of high school. It made me look back at my high school life in a jiffy because the problems that were shown in the film were actual problems. I think that Senior Year is the first movie of its kind here in the Philippines, though Pisay was the very first High School movie (also an Indie film) but I wasn't able to watch it so I cannot really compare. The film was able to present what it was like to be in high school during these modern times - problems regarding love, multi-tasking, the dreading thought of going to college in a few months, and so on. And the flashback worked.

The actors were effective in their respective roles, and it was helpful that the students were played by students if you know what I mean. They were not actors and I believe that Senior Year was their first acting gig. They were fresh out of high school when they filmed this, so that makes the emotions come out genuinely. And I must say, the actual students looked very much alike with their grown-up counterparts (eg Aaron Balana looked like RJ Ledesma).

I also like how the story revolved not only in school life but also in the students' family life, that life ain't no bed of roses, especially for the troubled Bunda.

But there are things that I didn't like.

I did not like the ending. Bitin. I wonder how Chito ended up because he did not have an adult representation during the homecoming, so as with Bunda. Why was she wearing her toga during the end part? And what happened during the reunion? The story could've been better if the reunion was showed, or at least a summary of what happened to the other characters because the story was left hanging.

Over-all, I'd rate this movie four stars because of it's young nature, and given that it's indie, it was a success, and will still be because there will be campus screenings. :)

I won't mind watching it again if it goes to DLSU.