WillCa and DustBia fans, your moment has come—your favorite pairs are ready to capture hearts on the big screen.
Love You So Bad brings together Bianca de Vera, Will Ashley, and Dustin Yu to tell the story of a threefold romance defined by longing, growth, and self-discovery. Here is SEA Wave’s High Five movie review of Love You So Bad.
Familiar Tropes, Real Feelings
Director Mae Cruz-Alviar with “Love You So Bad” leads Dustin Yu, Bianca de Vera, and Will Ashley | Photo from Star Cinema
The film opens like a typical romcom, filled with cheesy dialogue and familiar tropes that set the story in motion. But once you get past the surface, it becomes clear that this is a Mae Cruz-Alviar film and not just another romantic comedy. Rather than relying solely on one-liners and familiar beats, it gradually lets emotion take the lead.
As the story unfolds, humor gives way to sincerity. The dialogue gradually carries more weight, with each scene driven by feeling, whether romantic or tender, brought about by the film’s leads, de Vera as the sassy and confident Savannah, Yu as the charismatic bad boy LA, and Ashley as the straight-laced and principled Vic.
The Best of Both Worlds
Stills from Star Cinema
Both pairings are given ample room to shine. While Savannah’s relationships with LA and Vic form differently, each is given substantial romantic moments—something that will delight fans of both love teams.
Instead of playing it safe, Love You So Bad fully commits to whichever relationship is in focus. When SaVic (Savannah and Vic) takes center stage, the film leans into their romance completely—and when it’s LaVan’s (LA and Vanna) turn, it does the same. The result is a love story that never half-commits, even if it means momentarily pushing the other pairing out of view.
That said, the film’s narrative structure does end up favoring one relationship more than the other. Yet rather than undermining the plot, this imbalance ultimately clarifies why each love interest feels right for Savannah in different ways—and why neither fully is—as their inner struggles begin to unfold.
Three Sides to This Love Story
Love You So Bad is a love-triangle-esque romance, but beyond the complexity of Savannah having two love interests, it takes time to examine each of its three characters individually, outside their respective pairings.
They are given moments of vulnerability that lay bare their pain, allowing us to understand who they are beyond romance and how these truths shape their connections. In doing so, the film’s greatest strength lies in treating its characters not as pawns in a tricky game of love, but as people with inner lives—people whose stories invite empathy.
The cast does a great job of bringing these characters to life, but one performance, in particular, stands out.
Bianca de Vera Is a Revelation
Still from Star Cinema
Will Ashley and Dustin Yu deliver solid turns as the film’s leading men, each with convincing chemistry alongside their leading lady—but Bianca De Vera is undeniably the heartbeat of Love You So Bad.
She brings the sassiness she’s known for, making Savannah funny without ever trying too hard to be likable. That side of the character feels close to Bianca’s persona, which likely explains how effortlessly she inhabits the role. But it’s the vulnerable aspects of Savannah that truly showcase Bianca’s versatility as an actress.
She commands scenes that require the heaviest emotions. Her line deliveries carry real impact, especially during the film’s pivotal three-way confrontation, where the questions hit hardest. And with a performance of that degree, her character’s story deserved a good ending—with the right man—and that’s exactly what she got.
The Perfect Endgame
Still from Star Cinema
While the film presents itself as a love triangle, at its core, Love You So Bad is really about Savannah—a young woman trying to find love, and more importantly, herself.
After everything the characters go through, it becomes clear who truly feels right for our leading lady. Without giving anything away, the ending understands that love isn’t just about choosing someone else, but choosing the person who should matter most—yourself.
Does the ending feel safe? Yes. But whether it was fan service or intentional, it still feels earned. It prioritizes Savannah’s emotional journey, giving her—and the boys she loved so badly—the closure they deserve.
Are you Team SaVic or Team LaVan? In this three-way romance, the real winner is anyone who takes the time to watch the film.
SEA Wave rates Love You So Bad 3 out of 5 waves.