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On-the-set LOOK: Xian Lim's Hello, Universe—an inspiring story of regrets and redemption using comedy as tool

01.24.23
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Photos: Viva Films

Janno Gibbs plays Ariel, a good fellow experiencing midlife crisis. His thoughts are filled with “should have," "could have," "would have.” But as they say, repeated thoughts could manifest. The universe could conspire to help you achieve your dreams. In Ariel's case, it takes a magical figure named Jessie (Benjie Paras), that lets him live the life he’s always dreamed of – in an alternate universe.

This first month of 2023, say hello to Xian Lim’s second directorial movie, Hello, Universe!, starring top-notch comedians, Janno Gibbs, Anjo Yllana, and Benjie Paras with hot leading ladies Maui Taylor and Sunshine Guimary.

A story about a man who can’t seem to move on from a failure, this fantasy-comedy is also written by Direk Xian, taking inspiration from his personal experience of dreaming to be a professional basketball player before he entered show business.

Janno Gibbs plays Ariel who is married to his high school sweetheart (Maui Taylor), father to a sweet and hardworking young lady (Madelaine Red), and works as a quality inspector in a fertilizer company.

He is also now experiencing midlife crisis.

Ariel feels that if only he had made that winning shot during a crucial basketball game back in high school, his life would have turned out way better. He is particularly envious of his former rival who is now a famous and wealthy basketball coach.

Luckily, Ariel’s best friend Rocky (Anjo Yllana), is always there to cheer him up every time his thoughts are filled with “should have," "could have," "would have.”

But as they say, repeated thoughts could manifest. The universe could conspire to help you achieve your dreams. In Ariel's case, it takes a magical figure named Jessie (Benjie Paras), that lets him live the life he’s always dreamed of – in an alternate universe.

In his new reality, Ariel finds himself with a new wife (Sunshine Guimary), a new daughter (Majo Lingat), but still with the same old foes: Mac Morales (Gene Padilla), his arch nemesis in basketball, and Leeroy (MJ Cayabyab), the manager at the fertilizer company.

Join Ariel as the charmed life he has envisioned suddenly becomes chaotic. But expect lots of gags and laughs—and a touch of drama—as his journey goes.

At the story conference held last year, Xian shared his thoughts about having regrets in life, saying, “I try to not look back too much sa mga regrets sa buhay, just in the now…Given this opportunity to be with all these wonderful actors, ito lang muna ang focus ko…buong pagmamahal sa pelikulang ito.”