He was launched before by Viva TV in their collaboration with TV5, the remake of their 80s hit film, “Bagets” and in another remake, “P.S. I Love You”, in 2011. Both shows came and went without viewers actually noticing them. He then got parts in ABS-CBN shows like “Be Careful with My Heart” and several episodes of “Maalaala Mo Kaya”. He was also cast in TV5’s “Tasya Fantasya”, produced by Viva. But still, his career won’t take off the way his partner in “Bagets” did, Nadine Lustre.
He then played supporting roles in the films of Nadine with James Reid. Now, Viva is launching him in “Double Barrel”, where he sports a new rough, tough guy look more suited for a wannabe action star. He also does a nude love scene with his leading lady, Phoebe Walker, the daring nun who did full frontal nudity in “Seklusyon”.
Some folks are now comparing him with the young Rudy Fernandez. But the times are different. When Rudy was launched in “Baby Ama”, in the mid-70s, action flicks are the staple in local cinema. Moviegoers really flock to them, but they have since lost their attraction to local viewers who now prefer nothing but romcoms starring top love teams.
All our action stars lost their film careers. Even abroad, action films are having a rough time at the box office. The only ones that really make money are the action superhero special effects-filled extravaganzas, especially when many superheroes are assembled together in one movie, like in “The Avengers”, “Civil War” and the forthcoming “Justice League”. To AJ, all we can say is good luck when your movie opens in theaters on August 2. Hope springs eternal.
