User Reviews

`Andai Ia Tahu' (Wish He Knew) had a promising premise: Renata (Rachel Maryam) and Rio (Marcellius Siahaan) trapped in a stuck elevation. During the situation, they had an interesting interaction and unaware that they had builds an intense mutual attraction. After that, both of them realized that they just got crush. Considering that the only thing they know nothing but name, made them suddenly rushed in an urgent need to found the very existence of each other, just to prove that they really are meant to be one.

With an interesting prologue, we really could expect much more from the plot's development. Directorially, Indra Yudhistira probably had intentions of creating a memorable sweet romantic comedy in the tradition of Hollywood classic style (I just can get out that `Serendipity' out of my head!). Unfortunately, the film stumbles under a lot of unnecessary and dysfunctional situation, especially for a romantic comedy genre. Furthermore, the pace it self is to slow and the plot developing is stutter a lot and that made the story goes terribly wrong and awful. There's nothing romantic on it and we definitely couldn't finds any sparks to elevate our emotion to a higher level impression (like a romance film used to do). But, I must admit that this film is successfully made a dull comedy film.

On the casting department, Rachel Maryam does a decent job and proves that she's can act and she's here to stay! But the script made her suffering from a hangover from Dian Sastrowardoyo in `Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?' Her character even looks similar to what I thought about Dian Sastro in `Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?' Nevertheless, she looks very stunning and gorgeous. Singer Marcellius Siahaan looks try so hard to act, but his effort applauds worthy, considering this is his first performance as an actor. He does definitely need more time to improve his act more properly. The rest of the characters are bad and getting worse because played by the incapable and unconvincing actors. Eventually, all the characters have not enough current depth to make the believable and build the tension that needs.

Technically, the film is really needs to return to the editing room once again. The production design is simply a mess. The plot definitely needs a rewrite. Ultimately, `Andai Ia Tahu' is a film that lacks of many things required in a youthful romance. The vibe is unreachable and couldn't get those romantics expectation. Considering this is the first directorial debut for the director of course we could give apologizes but certainly we expect a lot of improvement for his next projects.

5/10

For the last two years, Indonesian Cinema had been awaken. At the end of the year 2002, Transinema Pictures brought us a nice romantic comedy but unoriginal "Andai Ia Tahu" starring Rachel Maryam and Marcellius Siahaan which was directed by Indra Yudhistira. "Andai Ia Tahu" seems to be the second romantic comedy in 2002 since the successful "Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?" a.k.a "What's Up With Love?".

The movie was about Love, Destiny, Soul mate, etc. A media writer named Renata met Rio who worked as a Tv Producer when their elevator got stucked accidentally on the 17th floor. They got to know more about each other and they have a very interesting conversation. Soon they realized that they fell in love. But when the encounter was over, they got separated and go their on ways. But that moment became one of their memories that were kept inside their hearts. They kept thinking about each other and that's why they tried as hard as they can to reunite and finally Miracle and Destiny gave them what they wanted.

The movie started in a simple but unique way. It was introduced in black and white with a flashback on the concept of "time". "Andai Ia Tahu" was the second movie for the director Indra Yudhistira. It seems that he did a better job than in his first direction on the 2001 adventure "Jakarta Project". In some way, the movie has great cinematography especially in the first part of the movie (Hollywood-style) but in some scenes, the cinematography got a bit messed up.

The unique Rachel Maryam and good-looking newcomer Marcellius Siahaan both did an exceptional performance. Also the supporting actress, Priscillia Camelia, did a very emotional acting. The movie had some poor minor actors except Harry Pantja who had starred in the horror movie "Jelangkung". The movie did handle a mix balance of character development but it required more deeper.

In the middle, the movie went a bit slow and got boring. But the movie got enlightened with the help of the interesting dialogue and the amusing humour. There were lots of good ideas on the humours and the scenes. The bad thing is the plot development. The movie had only a few conflicts and in some way, the resolution was too simple.

Most of the times, the audience got surrounded by romantic and slow musics. I must have to admit that the soundtracks were pretty good and the soundtrack crew did an excellent job. The soundtracks were slightly different with "Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?" because the movie is not only for teenager but also for people on their 30's.

In comparing "Andai Ia Tahu" and "Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?", both movies had the same quality. They were a fair and nice romantic comedy but definitely unoriginal and with lack of many things. Some ideas in the scenes are pretty much the same as "Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?" but in a more mature way for example the ending when Rio and Renata hugged each other at the train station was slightly the same when Cinta and Rangga kissed at the airport.

One of the bad things about the movie was the editing. The editing was simply such a mess and some of the scenes weren't attached together nicely. However I thought the movie was quite unique and enjoyable. As an Indonesian movie, "Andai Ia Tahu" was just at my expectation. But off course the movie needs more things.

I rate this movie 6/10 (Indonesian Rating).

Indonesian Movie hasn't resurrected yet, not until the teenager romantic drama What's Up With Love? and the artistic drama Whispering Sands & A Courtesan. For quite a long time, we haven't made a pure romantic comedy and Andai Ia Tahu as known as Wish He Knew was one pure and relaxing romantic comedy.

Unfortunately, for the sake of Indonesian Cinema, Andai Ia Tahu hasn't got a pure and original story due to its high similarity with the romantic comedy Serendipity about Love, Faith & Destiny. The ending was almost the same, except that it is just slightly different. It's one thing that annoyed me because Indonesia just can't create a whole movie with original story and screenplay too.

Other than the baddies, it has good soundtracks and definitely good looking people too. Rachel Maryam has a very very interesting and unique face. She can act but can't sing. I am glad they didn't put Rachel as the singer in the movie. But yes, she was a good actress and I'm looking forward to her upcoming project. Marcellius Siahaan was OK. He may have a great voice to sing, but he did OK. As a newcomer, I think it's a good start for him.

I agreed with the comments on IMDB about the editing of the movie. Gosh, why can't they just re-edit this movie, mix the sound with Dolby Digital Surround Sound and they should've used a better camera to make the image quality better because sometimes the picture blurred and not clear enought for the audience to see.

Go Indonesian Cinema! This movie has some potential on the directing. The camera angles and movement were really really good. Sometimes they're kind of not in the right place and in some scenes, they could have done better. Anyway, Andai Ia Tahu is a 7/10 movie.