12's ambitious concept is lost in the noise

Through an unconventionally structured narrative, 12 introduces us to Anton (Ivan Padilla) and Erika (Alessandra de Rossi), a couple whose relationship is terminally ill. For more than an hour, we see every pathologic trait of this toxic relationship through constant fights. Anton is childish, emotionally manipulative and insensitive, while Erika is wishy-washy and submissive to a fault. To be honest, despite the fact that these scenes are juxtaposed with scenes of the two of them in happier times, it's all quite exhausting. After the fourth or fifth fight between the two I just wanted the two of them to stop already and just break up. These are two people who have no real reason to stay together for 12 years.

The dialogue doesn't help that much either. For much of this first half, Anton only knows how to be angry or childish (while angry) and Erika spews lines that wouldn't be out of place on an Instagram feed or on thoughtcatalog. We get it, you're broken. Get some Mighty Bond or something. It also doesn't help that Ivan Padilla isn't really that good an actor compared to his costar. Some of the scenes could have benefited from more takes. I remember a scene where he tells Erika that there are five words that every man hates: "you make me feel so ugly." Let's just forget that makes six words, not five.

It's kind of a shame, too, since the concept is actually pretty solid. Behind all the petty bickering and all the ways these two are horrible to each other, there's a pretty nice realization at the end. It all happens during the last part of the film when the fighting stops. But by then, the characters are far too grating, far too alienating to empathize with one or the other's love story. Technically, the film is very good. The sound is excellent and the camerawork is great. There's a lot of care that went into looking for this particular house (why a couple's bathroom would have two sinks feels like a weird design choice, but it works for blocking particular scenes.)

I wanted to like this film, but it lost me in the first five minutes. It assaults the viewer with an hour of pointless fighting, then eases into a conclusion that doesn't feel earned.

To end this review, I have made a little game. Find a person who hasn't seen the film or watched any of the trailers (if that's you, then you participate.) I've made three Instagram-ish pictures with love related quotes. Two of these pictures have quotes that are actual lines from the movie. The remaining picture has a quote that I just got from the internet. Guess which is which. 

Image A

Image C

Image B

this is not one of the choices