Liza Soberano gets high praise from PH celebrities, international film critics amid Hollywood debut
Liza Soberano has been getting love and support from local celebrities and international film critics amid her Hollywood debut via the film, Lisa Frankenstein.
The actress' first Hollywood project arrived in Philippine cinemas on Wednesday, Feb. 7. She recently graced its special screening with co-stars Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse in the United States, where the movie will premiere on Friday, Feb. 9.
Various personalities took to social media to express their pride for Liza following her feat in the international scene.
'One of the movie's best assets'
In the comments section of Liza's Instagram post, Heart Evangelista said she's proud of Liza for "[going] against the flow of the usual norm."
"The spotlight is on YOU for everyone to see!" she added.
James Reid, who has been managing Liza under his Careless label since 2022, described Liza as "one of the movie's best assets."
"A different type of genre for her that we've ever seen Liza in, and I think she killed it," he said during the Philippine premiere of Lisa Frankenstein.
At the same event, her boyfriend, actor Enrique Gil said he'll support Liza "until the day [he] dies."
"This is her dream, you know? Whatever she wants to be in her life, if it's her dream, I'm all for it," he said.
Other Pinoy stars who sent Liza some love following her Hollywood achievement include Iza Calzado and Janella Salvador.
"Congratulations!!! Been your fan since day one. So proud of you," Iza wrote.
Janella, meanwhile, commented: "I am so incredibly proud of you."
The 'breakout star and true discovery' of the film
Aside from making the country proud, Liza has also been lauded by some film critics, writers, and personalities in the US.
In his review for USA Today, Brian Truitt wrote that the movie’s "breakout gem" is Liza, "who brings scene-stealing verve as the protective Taffy gets caught up in her sibling’s shady business."
Richard Lawson also expressed his love for Liza's character in his review for Vanity Fair, saying that she "has a tartness, an edge that makes her more fully human than she might be in a lesser writer’s hands. Or in a lesser actor’s." Calling her "one of the film's chief pleasures," he said that Liza "is an ace scene stealer."
Katcy Stephan of Variety tweeted that Liza shines in the film "as she delivers [its] best one-liners."
Katie Walsh of the LA Times, meanwhile, called Liza "the breakout star and true discovery" of Lisa Frankenstein. "In fact, Soberano might be too good in the role," she added.
For film critic Dylan Roth, Liza is the "real second lead of the film."
"Cole Sprouse is at the center of the movie’s gross-out slapstick and makes a solid comic foil for Newton, but the real second lead of the film is Liza Soberano as Lisa’s stepsister Taffy," he wrote in a post.
While Mick LaSalle, an American film critic and author, expected more from the film, he noted that Liza was able to "find comedy in a weak script and radiate goodness without being boring." He added, "Let's hope she has better movies in the future."
American director Joe Russo said the actress is a scene-stealer in the movie, noting that its creators "found a superstar" in Liza.
A coming-of-age love story, Lisa Frankenstein follows a misunderstood teenager as she reanimates a handsome corpse, who also happens to be her high school crush. The sudden, strange circumstance then leads them to embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness, "and a few missing body parts along the way."
In her first Hollywood film, Liza plays the role of Taffy, a cheerleader with a soft spot for her socially awkward stepsister Lisa Swallows.