December is once again upon us, and with the Christmas season’s cold winds also comes the 41st edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
This year’s iteration of the annual festival, which runs from Dec. 25 until Jan. 7 of the coming year, features eight different films hand-picked from a pool of 21, spanning genres from romance to comedy, to action and horror, and everything in between, with the occasional blending of genres.
With a promising lineup of films and an equally star-studded pool of celebrities, it’s hard not to get excited about the upcoming festival, showcasing the best and brightest of Philippine cinema.
Here are our thoughts and expectations on the festival’s eight featured films:
Beauty and the Bestie (Action, Comedy, by Star Cinema & Viva Films)
Hot off the success of last year’s The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin, the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, director Wenn Deramas and actor Vice Ganda reunite once again for the fourth time in MMFF history in what is touted as an “action-comedy movie for the whole family.” Accompanying Vice is his “bestie,” Coco Martin, alongside James Reid and Nadine Lustre.
If Vice Ganda’s previous films are to be any indication, this is going to be an action-comedy film, with a very great emphasis on the comedy part, with Vice focusing on comedy and Coco Martin doing the action scenes.
With the JaDine love team, the movie also goes for a slight tinge of a rom-com. And with Wenn Deramas at the helm, a tried-and-tested formula – a comedy film with an underlying moral, often with a family-centered tone, is expected.
Details about the movie’s plot are scarce from the teaser, but Beauty and the Bestie will most likely be a family-friendly comedy film, which draws viewers in with the laughs, and hits home with a somewhat deeper message.
Expect it to be one of the funniest, highest-grossing films of the year. Just don’t expect anything groundbreaking in terms of the storytelling or plot.
Honor Thy Father/ Con Man (Crime Thriller, Drama, Action, by Reality Entertainment)
Erik Matti combines his substantial directorial chops alongside John Lloyd Cruz’s equally considerable acting skills in this dark, unsettling movie centered on themes of religion and family, previously screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
John Lloyd plays Edgar, a father who finds himself lost in his obnoxiously pious wife, Kaye (Meryll Soriano)’s world. When a get-rich-quick scheme orchestrated by Kaye goes wrong, however, Edgar finds himself surrounded by angry parishioners eager to get their money back, with his family’s lives on the line.
What follows is a dark, vicious tale of a father determined to save his family – no matter what the cost.
With the trailer showing beautiful, powerful shots with a dark color palette, expect this movie to be deep, dark and violent, with an underlying theme, that, when explored enough, is just as equally deep, dark and violent as the scenes in the movie. Just don’t expect it to shatter box office records.
All You Need is Pag-ibig (Romantic Comedy, by Star Cinema)
Last year’s sleeper hit That Thing Called Tadhana’s director, Antoinette Jadaone, returns with All You Need is Pag-ibig, a romantic comedy starring Kris Aquino and her son Bimby, Derek Ramsay, Kim Chiu and Xian Lim.
Judging by the film’s teaser trailer, it centers on different people and different couples as they struggle with their day-to-day love lives (or lack thereof).
Expect it to be along the lines of 2010’s Valentine’s Day, with various people with various heartaches often crossing paths with each other, all unified by one thought – sometimes, all you need is pag-ibig.
Walang Forever (Romantic Comedy, by Quantum Films)
Jennylyn Mercado stars as Mia, a “celebrated writer of romantic-comedy films,” who is at a point in her life where she finds trouble in believing in the concept of a long-lasting relationship (hence the title).
Things suddenly take a turn for the unexpected when Ethan, Mia’s ex-boyfriend played by Jericho Rosales, returns, also a doubter of everlasting love because of their prior breakup.
Directed by Dan Villegas, expect this movie to pull out a few surprises from under its sleeves, despite being a well-rounded rom-com all throughout.
My Bebe Love: #KiligPaMore (Romantic Comedy, GMA Films)
The AlDub love team of Maine Mendoza and Alden Richards appears on the big screen for the very first time in My Bebe Love, a romantic comedy from GMA Films, directed by Jose Javier Reyes.
In her movie debut, Maine plays Anna while Alden is Dondi.. Anna is a tenacious, unruly girl who seeks the attention of her father, played by Vic Sotto, whereas Dondi is a nerd, at the beck and call of his domineering aunt, played by Ai-Ai de las Alas, who often makes the decisions for him.
The two bump into each other and immediately, their personalities clash. Eventually, however, the two fall for each other, and work their differences out.
Expect this movie to be a funny, lighthearted movie, with AlDub kalyeserye references and characters thrown in for good measure. Also, expect it to be one of the highest-grossing films of the year, riding off the popularity and social media frenzy stirred up by the AlDub tandem’s movie debut, in direct competition with Vice Ganda’s Beauty and the Bestie.
Nilalang (Horror, Action, by Haunted Towers Pictures)
Seasoned actor Cesar Montano and former Japanese adult movie actress Maria Ozawa unite in Nilalang, an action-horror movie about a series of killings with a supernatural appearance being investigated by Montano’s character, NBI investigator Tony.
Tony teams up with Miyuki, the heiress to an organized crime syndicate from Japan. The duo tackles the corruption prevalent in Philippine society, along with a centuries-old curse that may be the cause for the multiple murders happening in Manila.
Expect this movie to be something different, with a unique premise and a capable cast combining their talent into what may be a really good action-thriller. Just don’t place those expectations too high, as Filipino horror movies haven’t been exactly good as of late.
Haunted Mansion (Horror, by Regal Entertainment)
“Teenagers stuck in a large, abandoned house with haunted and supernatural goings-on” isn’t exactly a revolutionary concept when it comes to movie plots; in fact, it’s quite the opposite of revolutionary.
When a Palanca-award-winning writer of films like Jose Rizal and Muro Ami orchestrates the movie as its director, however, it could be a whole different story.
With Jun Lana at the helm, it’s difficult to simply set aside Haunted Mansion at first glance. It marks the MarNella (Marlo Mortel and Janella Salvador) love team’s film debut, along with a bunch of other young actors and actresses.
It’s quite difficult to expect something great from a film with such a worn-out premise; in fact the only thing we can expect from such a premise could be a whole lot of jump scares, loud noises, and overacting teenagers. With Lana directing, however, it could be a hallmark in filmmaking – either as a groundbreaking movie breathing new life into a tired and beaten genre, or as the lowest point in an otherwise promising director’s career.
Buy Now, Die Later (Horror, by Quantum Films)
A movie comprised of five interconnected mini-stories, with each representing one of the five senses, Buy Now, Die Later is a horror film starring Vhong Navarro, Alex Gonzaga, John Lapus, and Rayver Cruz, among others, directed by Randolph Longjas.
With a premise fairly similar to the Shake, Rattle, and Roll films in the past, it’s hard not to get intrigued by what this movie has to offer, especially with the teaser trailer giving out an equally fascinating vibe. With John Lapus and Vhong Navarro playing roles in the movie, however, it’s hard not to assume that most of the scares will be overshadowed by comedy.
Expect this movie to be an interesting take on a unique storytelling style. However, be warned that it could also be a comedy under the guise of a horror movie, filled with humor and occasional scares sprinkled throughout.
(Jao Gavino is a student majoring in journalism at University of Sto. Tomas.)