''Trophy Wife'' is a 2014 Filipino romantic

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

and

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...

directed by

Andoy Ranay Randolph "Andoy" Lastrilla Ranay is a Filipino director and actor. Controversy During the production of the series ''First Time (TV series), First Time'' on May 11, 2010, Ranay reportedly insulted actor Jake Vargas with obscene words, prompti ...

, starring

Cristine Reyes Ara Cristine Pascual Klenk (born February 5, 1989) is a Filipino actress. She has been dubbed as the "Ultimate Star" by the local media for her acting prowess and popularity. Her films have collectively earned ₱1.05 billion, making her one o ...

Derek Ramsay Derek Arthur Ramsay Jr. (born December 7, 1976) is a British-Filipino model, actor, and TV host. He has an exclusive contract with GMA Network. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramsay froze his contract with GMA Network. Ramsay is currently inact ...

Heart Evangelista Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco-Escudero (born February 14, 1985) known professionally as Heart Evangelista, is a Filipino actress. She is currently an exclusive artist of GMA Network represented by Alice Talents Agency in Paris, France and Direct ...

, and

John Estrada John Anthony Siason Estrada (born June 13, 1973), known professionally as John Estrada, is a Filipino actor, model and filmmaker who has starred in a number of roles as a leading man and antagonist. He was a contract actor with ABS-CBN from ...

. The film will be distributed by

Viva Films Viva Films, Inc. (also known as Viva Films, stylized as VIVA Films) is a Philippine film production and distribution company owned by Viva Communications. It was founded in 1981 by Vic del Rosario Jr. and his sister Tess Cruz. Viva Films is o ...

with the co-production of Multivision Pictures and was released on July 30, 2014 in theatres nationwide. This is the 4th adult drama film

produced in the 2010s after the hit movies No Other Woman (2011),

A Secret Affair ''A Secret Affair'' is a 2012 Filipino romantic drama film directed by Nuel Naval and starring Anne Curtis, Derek Ramsay and Andi Eigenmann. A love triangle story, it was released on October 24, 2012, in more than 200 theaters in the Philippi ...

(2012), and When the Love is Gone (2013).

Plot

Chino (

), a rich playboy, meets Lani (

), a GI baby of a former prostitute, when he visits Angeles City for a bar hopping. During Chino and Lani's whirlwind romance, Chino gets into a fight with a mayor's son that leads his brother Sammy (

) to send him to America. Lani, with no knowledge of Chino's departure to America, follows Chino to Manila to tell him about her pregnancy. Upon Lani's visit, Sammy refuses Lani entry to their house. As Sammy leaves the house, not looking at the commotion Lani is causing outside his car, he instructs his driver to ignore Lani's pleas and carry on driving. The driver accidentally bumps into Lani, causing her miscarriage. With nothing else going on for her, Lani holds on to her American dream. Blessed with beauty and a whistle-bait figure, she plans to use these assets to inch her way toward advancing her social status, and subsequently, to plot vengeance against the brothers. Winning Ms. Body Beautiful and working as a joiner in a bar in Manila, Lani monitors the status of Chino and Sammy. Lani's plot begins to unravel when the American Ambassador takes her to a society ball. As part of the elite, Sammy also attends the ball. Sammy instantly notices Lani's smashing looks and gets smitten. Meanwhile, a homesick Chino in America finds comfort in his newfound friend, Gwen (

). With Gwen's attributes, Chino falls for Gwen in no time. One night, Chino receives a phone call from Sammy asking him to come back to Manila to meet his new sister-in-law. Chino, together with Gwen, excitedly heads back to Manila to be introduced to the new bride. Chino's excitement turns into despair when he realizes that his new sister-in-law turns out to be Lani, the girl he abandoned. Unable to confess to Sammy and Gwen, Chino's paranoia and Lani's constant seduction create a rift between the two brothers. Little did Sammy and Chino know, the plot has been carefully planned by Lani and Gwen. Gwen is actually Lani's long-lost sister who was adopted by a Filipino family in America. Gwen, who is trying to make up for their years apart, agrees to Lani's plot. The pact between the two sisters becomes complicated, however, when Gwen slowly falls for Chino. Lani feels betrayed by Gwen's feelings for Chino, and promises to win Chino back. Lani succeeds. Sammy discovers the infidelity of his wife. Sammy's violent streak surfaces as his jealousy turns to rage. He soon discovers the connivance of the sisters and takes Lani to a remote cabin to kill her. Gwen learns from their mother about Lani's miscarriage. She decides to tell Chino about Lani's misfortune together with her secret as Lani's long-lost sister. Realizing the absence of Sammy and Lani in the house, Chino and Gwen seek help from Sammy's ex-wife. After they obtained vital information about the whereabouts of Sammy and Lani, Chino and Gwen head to the cabin to save Lani. Gwen and Chino find the cabin as Sammy is torturing Lani. Chino and Sammy wrestle for the gun. The unthinkable happens. Chino kills Sammy. Chino faces trial and is found innocent. As he comes out of prison, Gwen waits for him. While Chino and Gwen start their new lives, Lani, who now inherits Sammy's fortune, finally fulfills her American dream

Cast

Main cast

as Lani *

as Joaquin "Chino" Lee *

as Gwen *

as Sammy Lee

Supporting cast

Jaime Fabregas Jaime Francisco García Fábregas (; born February 28, 1950) is a Filipino actor and musical scorer. Early life Jaime Francisco García Fábregas was born in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines to his parents Pedro Fábregas and Isabel Gar ...

as Bobby *

Jackie Lou Blanco Jacqueline Lourdes Corrales Blanco (born February 11, 1964) is a Filipino actress and aerobic instructor. During the 1980s and the 1990s, she appeared in different film genres including ''Hihintayin Kita sa Langit'', (1991), ''Si Aida, Si Lor ...

as Sally * G. Toengi as Ella *Jovic Monsod as Mon *

Kian Kazemi Kian Reza Kazemi (born January 26, 1986) is a Filipino actor, reality show contestant and TV host. Personal life Kazemi's father is Iranian and his mother Charito is a Filipina of mixed Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or relate ...

as Daniel * John James Uy as Johnboy *Clint Bondad as Chino's Friend *Jay Roa as Chino's Friend *Phoebe Walker as Chino's Friend *Akiko Orita as Chino's Friend *Creesha Galvero as Chino's Friend * Minco Fabregas as Attorney Littau * Dolly Gutierrez as Clerk of Court * Frances Makil-Ignacio as Clerk of Court * Billy Villeta as Clerk of Court * Clark Merced as Clerk of Court * Debbie Garcia as Clerk of Court * Richard Cunanan as Clerk of Court * Pamela Nieva as Clerk of Court * Joel Saracho as Clerk of Court

Awards and nominations

References

{{Reflist 2014 films 2010s romance films 2014 thriller films 2010s Tagalog-language films Philippine romantic drama films Philippine thriller films Viva Films films 2014 drama films 2010s English-language films Films directed by Andoy Ranay English-language romance films English-language thriller films