All her life, Sari (Kim Chiu) has felt like she’s living up to the way her name sounds — always feeling sorry for things beyond her control. Every time she falls for someone, the man she cherishes literally disappears, including a movie star who vanished without a trace after she kissed him on a TV screen.

Then she meets Jolo (Paulo Avelino), a man who desperately wants to disappear and use quick escapism as a way to outrun his pain. And just like that, the title — “My Love Will Make You Disappear” — which had puzzled me for days before I saw the film, suddenly clicked. The movie thrusts its central conflict into the spotlight from the get-go, pulling me into a story that’s as whimsical as it is profoundly existential.

This film brings back the beloved “KimPau” pairing (as fans call the Kim Chiu-Paulo Avelino love team) under the direction of Chad V. Vidanes, who previously helmed “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?” But here, they refine their craft. “My Love Will Make You Disappear” carries the polish of experience, with Vidanes shaping a film that looks richer and more visually assured. Written by Patrick Valencia and Isabella Policarpio, the movie balances the charm of Filipino dramedy with the polished aesthetic of contemporary Asian romcoms. Some cinematographic choices genuinely surprised me. In a movie that leans toward romantic comedy, these choices elevate the visual storytelling without ever feeling out of place.

The film is also a testament to the versatility of its leads. I watch Chiu almost every day on “It’s Showtime,” where her bubbly persona lights up the screen, so much so that I sometimes forget just how good she can be as an actress — until a film like “My Love Will Make You Disappear” comes along to remind me. She has an effortless comedic timing that makes her lighthearted moments genuinely funny, but when the narrative demands intensity, her expressive eyes hold the weight of every emotion.

Paulo Avelino, widely recognized for his intense dramatic roles, isn’t a newcomer to comedy. His deadpan humor in “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?” was a surprisingly perfect fit for his on-screen persona. But while that role leaned into his signature cool detachment, “My Love Will Make You Disappear” challenges him to loosen up and embrace a more playful energy. The shift isn’t always effortless, but his charm fills in the gaps. He doesn’t abandon the quiet intensity that defines him. Instead, he recalibrates it to make space for humor without losing the quiet depth that has always defined his screen presence.

The film sometimes jumps between humor and heartbreak so fast it can catch you off guard, but there’s always a reason for it. These shifts help make sense of the emotions at play to ensure that every laugh and every gut punch feel like they belong in the same story.

Chiu and Avelino’s chemistry is undeniable, and what makes their pairing even more compelling is their ability to explore the same genre without feeling like they’re merely replicating past performances. Even when the narrative becomes overwhelming, a single tight shot of their expressive faces is enough to ground the story and reassure the audience of its emotional sincerity.

\What I appreciate most about the film is its unflinching honesty in tackling trauma and loneliness. Beyond being just whimsical plot devices, the fantastical elements serve as a reflection of how we create our own monsters and villainize others without acknowledging that they, too, are shaped by their past wounds. It’s an eye-opening social commentary, especially in a time when imagined enemies and undiagnosed struggles are often amplified on social media, sometimes justified, but just as often, a tool for manipulation. I admire its honesty in confronting loneliness in a society that romanticizes self-sufficiency.

I also appreciate how the film examines the misguided glorification of resilience — how enduring pain is often mistaken for strength when, in reality, survival isn’t the same as healing. Jolo and Sari’s journey pushes back against the notion that just because they can endure suffering means they should.

But for all its heavier themes, “My Love Will Make You Disappear” never loses sight of its beating heart. It portrays love in all its complicated, sometimes painful, yet undeniably transformative forms. It suggests that love is about finding reasons to stay, even when walking away feels like the easier choice.

Love in this film is both a miracle and a curse, capable of saving you or swallowing you whole. Like Jolo and Sari, we all risk vanishing into our fears, but maybe, just maybe, the right love doesn’t let you disappear — it dares you to stay.

Ralph Revelar Sarza is an independent film and TV critic. This review was originally published on the author’s website.