''I'm Drunk, I Love You'' was released in the Philippines on February 15, 2017, by
Solar Entertainment Corporation. On February 13, the film's star and co-producer
Paulo Avelino express dismayed due to the film's limited release, in 60 theaters across the country. He complained on a
Twitter post by saying "Just 60 cinemas for I’m Drunk I Love You? I strongly believe this film is worth more." On a separate tweet the same day, he complained before the
MTRCB (particularly its board member
Mocha Uson) posing this question in
Filipino, "
Bakit nga ba hindi inuuna ng mga lokal na sinehan ang mga Pelikupang [sic] Pilipino kesa sa Dayuhang Pelikula? Gawin sanang Batas (Why don't local cinemas prioritize Filipino Films than Foreign Films? Hopefully, it would become a law.)" The film's production companies
TBA (Tuko, Buchi Boy and Artikulo Uno), announced on February 15 that the number of theaters had been narrowed down to 33 theaters, at which time the film would be theatrically released. On February 22, Avelino directed criticisms toward local cinemas and the
Film Development Council of the Philippines helmed by chairperson
Liza Diño, at which time the film will be pulled out from cinemas. One of his tweets to Diño read: Diño responded to Avelino hours later, saying in part that "Fdcp is working with stakeholders."
Maja Salvador would later join Avelino in defending the film from being pulled out from theaters.
Netizens who are supportive of the film also promoted the hashtag "#SaveIDILY".
Critical reception The film was met with positive reactions from critics. Oggs Cruz of
Rappler described the film as "more than just a love story", and said: "[T]he film is an ode to intoxication, whether with alcohol or silly emotions. It celebrates the pleasures of the present, while poking fun at the idiocies of the past and worrying about the future." Mari-an Santos of Philippine Entertainment Portal praised Salvador and Avelino's
chemistry onscreen, and said: "The movie is a trip. A beautiful, colorful one that, if you are willing to strap yourself up for the ride, you will enjoy anyway." Blogger Louie Baharom of
Live Love Cinema gave 4/5, and described it as "[A]n emotionally sincere wake-up call to the millennials and everybody else who get blinded by affections; a cheery celebration of one’s own youth and the idea of it being something that just bursts like a bubble – all kept at a steady pace that pinches the heart, ignites the soul, and gets us to appreciate and savor every passing second as in life." Philbert Dy of
The Neighborhood said, "[The film] exudes a yearning for the carefree days of being young and drunk and in love, all the while acknowledging how that could never last." ==Sequel==