TV & Film
Our generation is one of social media hype, viral YouTube videos, and lengthy Instagram stories posted by self-proclaimed influencers. Call it cringe-worthy and shallow, but even the best of us must admit: We have succumbed to its clutches. The trite tale of Boy 2 Quizon’s I’m Ellenya L. (a play on “I, Millennial,” just in case you missed it!) proves just that.
Ellenya Lakambini (Maris Racal) is everything many people hate about this generation: A living, breathing, stereotypical millennial. She puts on makeup in the morning to take #wokeuplikethis selfies; she resigns from job after job and, most of all, she dreams of being an influencer. Despite constant scoldings from her grandmother (Nova Villa), Ellenya is spoiled and tolerated by her father (Gio Alvarez) and childhood best friend Stephen (Iñigo Pascual).
The majority of the movie is spent on its first act: Ellenya quits her job for the nth time after introducing herself to Kyle (Pat Sugui), a popular content creator on the lookout for fresh blood. Cue a montage of #OOTD moments, attempts to create viral videos, and Ellenya doing all she can to become popular—only to be met with ridicule and demise. The movie pans out exactly the way you expect it to, until Ellenya learns her lesson.
Or does she? Not all movies need to be thematic heavyweights, but I’m Ellenya L. still falls short. Though bolstered by cheery dialogue and funny chemistry, the film fails to deliver its intended message on moving away from online sensationalism. It’s also unclear on whether or not the movie was meant to be satirical since the comedy is there, but not the wit. With its cinematography hiding behind a hazy, Instagram-worthy filter, the film, while smooth in its storytelling, is never clear enough with its purpose. Sure, there’s the typical “Always be true to yourself” lesson that viewers expect to hear, but there is no redeeming arc, no acute realization to wrap up loose ends. The path of predictability simply veers off into vague territory.
Yet, while the plot feels overly familiar, one must credit the absurdity of Ellenya’s ambitions and Racal’s spunk for bringing them to life with jarring authenticity. There is absolutely no exaggeration: The craving for likes and views, the desire to be famous, and the digitalization of it all—this is what many of us aspire for nowadays, though we may never admit it. It’s this exposure of an ugly reality and the wanton thirst for attention that saves the film. For all its flaws, it’s still an accurate depiction of the current youth.
Ultimately, I’m Ellenya L. is a film that brings the genuine vapidity of this online generation to light—though it never offers a way or reason to be free of it. Watch it for its entertainment value and laugh at its ludicrous scenes, but don’t expect to leave none the wiser.
Photo sourced from the Film Development Council of the Philippines
Exposé