Ang Tanging Pamilya Review

Ang Tanging Pamilya
Starring Ai-Ai delas Alas and Joseph Estrada
Directed by Wenn Deramas

This blog, you could say, has a bit of a history with Wenn Deramas movies... I mean, out of all the handful of Filipino movies I've reviewed, it seems that a lot of them are works of his. This is sheer coincidence since I'm not always the one who picks movies to watch in the family.

But anyway, let's get a hold of the premise of this installment: Toni Gonzaga is Carlotta, and in her dream she meets a Filipino-American in the form of Sam Milby aka Prince who in sheer serendipity also dreams of the same thing. Carlotta is a member of the family of Dindo (Estrada) and Sunshine Sikat (Ai-Ai), whose marriage ceremony failed 25 years before. Apparently, in this sub-plot Dindo was extremely late for their wedding as he was too helpful to all the pregnant women he found on the streets and in addition to traffic, it was next to impossible to get to the church in time. To compensate, Dindo would promise a wedding in their 25th anniversary.

So yeah, first off, I just want to say that the love story element, which makes up the bulk of the movie, is utterly saccharine. I mean, for the first half of the movie, I preferred that I was in that pilot's chair in Toni's dream, gargling my saliva due to venom. That part was that bad. And how about that part where Prince has to impress Carlotta's father? It's simply insane and almost as contrived as that of a reality show. I get the inspiration of Meet the Parents, but seriously...

The only thing that actually turned things around was the presence of Aling Dionisia Pacquiao who makes her film debut, and quite frankly I'm kinda impressed with her comic timing and priceless facial expressions. It's in her entrance that the film's general quality picks up as her origins and physical appearance make for a goldmine of silly one-liners, names and puns ripe for the picking, and the writers simply exploited this without fail. I laughed through most of the insult Ai-Ai and Aling Dionisia threw at each other during the course of the film, and somehow they do form a certain chemistry. And that's more than what I can say for the chemistry that former President Joseph Estrada and Ai-Ai possess (or not). Simply put, Joseph Estrada is a bit old for Ai-Ai, so it's hard to maintain a suspension of disbelief. Trust me, this is no comeback, although I have to admit that Estrada kind of still has some of his moves.

But of course, the plot has to progress, and the movie leaves out Aling Dionisia so that the movie can get off its ass and finish. It's not that I think that there's not enough Aling Dionisia in there (in fact, I think the filmmakers knew that too much of her would become annoying), it's just that I found the moments too predictable and lame to even care. And no, not even Sam Milby and Toni Gonzaga's pretty faces can save anything from the love story that simply has to ensue. It feels like going through the motions, and the 'lover is leaving so other lover must catch up before he leaves' thing is just corny. I cringed a lot, so to speak.

But the film overall is a marked improvement over the other Wenn Deramas production that showed this year, there's less of that awful cartoony speed editing, and more of the punchy one-liners we expect out of an Ai-Ai film. Hell, some of the funny lines that come from the movie aren't even one-liners too, which is a welcome achievement for the writing staff.

Still, you can't help but feel that the people behind the film could've done better with the concept they had going, I mean, the concept of the couple who didn't have an actual formal wedding for 25 years, as well as the struggles of a long-distance couple that wants to make it work is really promising for a comedy. In the end, there's something about the potential that feels squandered, and yet I ask myself, "Why am I laughing?" which sorta indicates the fact that they actually put the concept to good use, in a way.

Aside from those mixed feelings, I think this Filipino comedy is watchable, especially if you ignore the cringe-inducing moments of contrived love the Milby-Gonzaga love team emanates here. I mean, the scene-stealer is pretty much Manny Pacquiao's mom, and I think that she's actually worth the price of admission. It's funnier than I expected it to be, yet it also feels like a great opportunity squandered.

Rating: 7/10

Movies Opening This Week: MMFF special

Aside from Avatar, there probably won't be much foreign fare to look forward to, so instead of featuring movies that'll simply open in January anyway, I'll simply go on a leg and get some trailers for the entries in next Friday's Metro Manila Film Festival, as well as the other films that'll release alongside them that aren't participating.

Wapakman
People have associated the punch with the onomatopoeia "Wa-pak!" so perhaps this is where the punny origins of Wapakman lie. Punny because it stars the people's champ, Manny Pacquiao.

It's basically Manny Pacquiao acting like... Peter Parker at first, and then proving himself to be a hero.

It's directed by a surprisingly decent man, Topel Lee, and it's shaping up to be a Spiderman rip-off... at best.

Based from the trailer, it looks like the titular character will be fighting quite a few bad guys. Will they collaborate in a style ala the third Spiderman? I'm inclined to think so. And how about those different girls? Will they be Peter's... I mean, Pacquiao's love interests ala... Spiderman 3 again? Maybe.

Oh, and Kuya Kim is there!

To the movie's credit, the computer animation looks decent, and the movie looks to aim for a semi-campy, semi-serious tone, even though they're pretty much advertising it as all serious. It's not. Dude, the poster. Look at the poster.

Shake, Rattle and Roll 11
While it's commendable that Wapakman, while unoriginal, is at least a new intellectual property, Shake, Rattle and Roll 11, yet another trilogy of "scary" short films released by Regal, is quite the opposite.

It's hard to know when this series will actually stop, but seriously, now I know why the folks release it at Christmas: it's unintentionally funny- and they know it.

I mean, a possessed gown? WTF. And then the line, "Ako ay fashion designer! Ikaw ay gown!" was actually quite funny. And how about the aswang/diablo? That was cheesy and laughable. Also, I think I'm reminded of another movie when I see the campers part. I just can't get it out of my tongue...

For all it's worth, the technology is quickly improving, but not really up to par with anybody's standards really. It's either you make a low-budget film with traditional effects, or you make a low-budget film with distractingly crappy CGI.

Speaking of CGI, this next film has a lot:

Ang Panday
This reboot of the storied series is a CGI-heavy action flick that stars, once again, Bong Revilla as... uhh... the titular blacksmith.

The CGI looks more than decent enough to watch, but damn it, you can't expect me to watch a movie if the trailer starts out with a Mang Ramon like voice! GOSHDARN IT, DONG!

And seriously... while Panday needs a love interest, it's just awkward to see Bong Revilla with a relatively young'un sharing a kiss. -shudder-

Also, I find it surprising that, as far as I know, there aren't really any copyright issues with the name. I mean, doesn't ABS-CBN have a Panday series (whose season is long over, of course)... and this Panday is a GMA film? So who owns the trademark?

Mano Po 6
Hmm, at this rate, you may think that I'm alternating this post between new IP and sequel, but I'm not.

AAAANYWAY, this particular installment of Mano Po has once again relied on Chiang Kai Shek's facilities to shoot (and so close to its release date too), so the participants probably have this movie in a relatively special place in their heart. Clapping... clapping... clapping...

Let's not get carried away though, the more important thing about this Mano Po is the inclusion of... Sharon Cuneta. Almost any movie that includes her is very much, a big fu**ing deal, because she is famously particular of her scripts... even though I think the bff thing was corny, at best (I don't blame her for being in that movie... she probably owed Ai-Ai a favor).

So to say that this new Mano Po is actually something of note is an understatement. While the series has been notorious for depicting the Chinese community in a stereotypical way (and really, I think this movie won't make a difference about that), the inclusion of Sharon and the fierce passion she radiates as a mother trying to regain the love her child, while struggling to get acceptance from her in-laws (who are... pure Chinese who speak Filipino?) due to her mixed lineage (it happens, but the first thing that really came into my mind was, "uso pa to?"). It seems compelling... but will it really match up to the pedigree of its lead actress?

Oh, and it's hard not to laugh at the slap at the end. Panira.

Nobody, Nobody but... Juan!
Speaking of great actresses, it seems that a much respected treasure of cinema, Gloria Romero is in this Dolphy movie about an old man in a retirement home who wishes to reunite with his old flame through a Filipino noontime show (*cough*Wowowee*cough*). And actually, even Eddie Garcia is in there too! WTF? Is there something about this movie that's gonna be... special?

No, not really.

The concept is actually quite unique, but the execution looks less than stellar. (The fact that the trailer I watched was in incomprehensible mono doesn't help) Also, any movie that simply feels the need to advertise the show Wowowee (not to mention show Dolphy in underpants more than once) is something I automatically do not feel like watching.

In consolation, let's just say Chicago looks really good.

Ang Darling Kong Aswang
If Nobody had a pretty unique concept, Ang Darling Kong Aswang is pretty much almost out of hope. And as I suspected, it's from the makers of the Enteng Kabisote series.

"Nakita ko ang ningning ng mata mo nang makita ang gwapong lalaki."

WTF.

Vic Sotto doesn't strike to me as someone of leading man material. And while the concept of the menacing girlfriend is kinda funny, it's only something that'll work solely in a sitcom- and strictly so.

Oh, and the CGI sucks. Maybe it's intentional though. Also kind of reminds me of Zombieland, in a weird way.

Seriously though, it's a B-movie in every way you look at it, so maybe if you do watch it with that in mind, perhaps a little more enjoyment can be had.

I Love You, Goodbye
A very, very promising flick, this Kapamilya-studded flick is looking like the winner of the festival. Not only does it have a love story, it has several. And not only does it have just a love story composed of two young people fresh out of college, it's made of several mature people who lead lives and have emotions and are seemingly three-dimensional.

Now, I don't like Kim Chiu, but it might be the "breakthrough performance" her career needs. Same applies for Fil-Am Derek Ramsay.

Now the story goes like this: Gabby Concepcion's character has found a younger woman (Angelica Panganiban) who he loves, and his stepdaughter (Kim Chiu) doesn't like it. Meanwhile though, Kim Chiu's character wants Derek Ramsay's character to like her, but it seems that Ramsay only wants to go back to Angelica Panganiban. The trailer spoiled a tad bit too much, but since this movie actually has a pretty unique twist to the average love equation found in Filipino movies based from song titles, I'll let it slide.

Simply put, more filmmakers need to experiment with the audiences in this way. It's likely to do as well as In My Life, a Vilma Santos starrer which had her and her son Luis shooting abroad with John Lloyd Cruz... only thing is, Luis Manzano's character is in love with John Lloyd's. So maybe you didn't need that recap, but what I just want to emphasize is that Filipino movies that put small twists that make big risks can definitely do very well. I can expect this May-December affair to fare just as well, if not slightly better since Laurice Guillen is actually at the helm.

PINOY INDIE FEATURE: Pisay

NOTE: No this is not a review, but a little feature that may either pique your curiosity... or not.

PISAY

The death of Filipino cinema is looming near, yet even in a year where there have been quite a few more Filipino movies being made in comparison to the last, most of them are junk that cashes in on the latest sizzling love team or trend. And though this description is not applicable to all those kinds of mainstream fare, people would eventually get tired and wish there was more to mainstream local cinema than rom-coms, unfunny or loud comedies, fantasy sequels and cheap horror flicks. This is where independent cinema comes in. They tread the paths where nobody dares cross, yet they still tell these stories effectively with a consumer video camera. Why? Because the cameras big productions use are pretty big and clear, not to mention expensive. But I'm not here to talk about cameras. I'm here to talk about one of these independent films that would probably be the most relevant to our lives, as well as our parents'. And this flick is called Pisay, short for the Philippine Science High School.

Directed by acclaimed indie director Auraeus Solito (Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros), this semi-autobiographical tale of high school life in the 80's pretty much focuses on different sets of people in different school years. Being the 80's though, it's not your average ordinary teenage high school flick, but one that is set in the era of Marcos, este, Martial Law. Knowing this, the twist set by the flick will most probably get you wondering how the heck they can go on with their studies during those chaotic times, and how they can even lead a normal teenage life!

The film has won accolades, most recently in France (Vesoul Film Festival; Audience Prize and a few others), and is currently showing locally (Feb. 20-27 @ SM Cinemas). (It was also actually finished and screened internationally since 2006, I think.) But regardless of these little tidbits, I have a feeling that Pisay is a highly viewable film, especially for teens as it chronicles this stage in life in a unique manner and setting. The convincing and talented cast (that also includes some former Going Bulilit faces and relative unknowns) is a big plus.

Below is the trailer:

CAPTION: "You are nothing but a unicellular protozoan amoeba!" Classic line!

MEDIA CREDIT: http://pisaythemovie.com.ph (Official Pisay website)