Review: One (Wholesome)Night Only

One Night Only

Aside from Iskul Bukol, JG and I also saw One Night Only during the Holiday break. And like him, we were both surprised and agreed that we liked it better than the T.V. & J. reunion flick. However, let me make it clear that I only liked it a little, again, more than I liked Iskul Bukol, or at least not as much as JG liked it.

 

 

 I liked the movie (a little), because the story was good. Basically, it’s about a group of people that are all connected to each other. The story evolves in the events of the day, where they all end up going to the same motel. Let me see if I can get the connection:

So Diana wanted to sleep with John who was seeing Valerie; whose the friend of Jennilyn who was with lesbian Manilyn, who manages Assunta, whom is being seduced by Paolo, who is loathed by Ogie that is the friend of Chocolate who is hairdresser of Ricky’s wife who wants to bed Katrina who is a good friend of Diana.  

I liked it because it was fast paced and the situations they found themselves in were a little interesting. I liked it because it wasn’t slapstick; it didn’t end with a corny moral of the story, and it doesn’t tackle Pinoy clichés like poverty or anyone suddenly finding out that they are someone’s long lost love child.

What I didn’t like about the movie was that I found myself mislead. First off, It casted stars who claimed to be ready to go daring (e.g. Jennilyn Mercado, and Diana Zubiri who was the reason JG wanted to see in the first place), and that it was supposed to be something for the older movie goers. But as JG explained, the MMFF only allows films that are rated PG, thus what was supposed to be a sexy comedy, turned out to be nothing but a cleavage festival.

I’m not saying there should have been breast exposures, or pumping scenes; but it wouldn’t have hurt it showed a little bit of torrid kissing and some green dialogues; some effort to at least challenge its adult target market.  I thought that the movie dived too deep below the rated PG line, that it turned out be too elementary for a grown-up like me. Yes, the plot was funny and unique, all I’m saying it that, you went that far, might as well push it a little further and make it smarter. If you can’t pull it off with artsy bed scenes then at least challenge my brain with the dialogue. Joey de Leon was able to pull it off in Iskul Bukol (“I want be an Eskimo. Es, es, es…”), and many who saw that film were kids.

Also, on a Sociological perspective (yes, deep…), had they tried to make the script a little wittier, then the characters, especially the lead roles, would’ve had a little more dignity in them. I believe the movie wanted to show the modern Pinay who are as casual with their sexuality as men, but because of the basic dialogues, they all just became easy, ditsy, and promiscuous; instead of liberated and open-minded.

sex comedy?

In summary, I enjoyed the film, but not that much. It was unique, the idea was good, and the flow of the story was well executed. Maybe with a little more intellectual banter, or had it at least did prove to be daring as they publicized it to be, perhaps I would’ve liked it a lot. Close but no cigar.

 

 

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Favorite Overheard Quote/Conversations  of the Day:

One girl was decribing a friend she was going to set-up with her guy friend;

“Ano sya, pinaghalong Ara Mina at Jean Garcia.”

I don’t think that is a good combination, don’t you? Let’s just hope she nice or smart…

Iskul Bukol: The Reunion That Was Not

T.V.& J.

I was actually excited when I first heard about the Iskul Bukol Reunion flick a few weeks before Christmas. I rarely go to the cinemas to watch local films; I must admit that I am one of the many who does not have very high appreciation to our movies as much as I do with Hollywood films. I usually just go depending on who’s staring, or who I’m watching it with; otherwise I watch it on TV or “borrow” (not buy) a CD. But I must admit that I’m a sucker for our local producer’s weak attempt towards romantic stories, no matter how corny they are. So Christmas day, JG and I went to see it.

 

 

Anyway, Iskul Bukol really psyched me because it’s been a long time since T.V. & J. got together for a movie. More than expecting it to be funny, it’s a kind of a thing that will bring together the three generations that grew up on their films and Eat Bulaga. I thought the movie was going to be like the original TV show. I already expected them to add on new faces aside from the original members (since it did say it was a reunion), including the trios three children. I guess it was for added audience market that want to see if Carlene Aguilar can act, or for those who has a crush on Ryan Agoncillo (who by the way didn’t say a word in the movie).

To be honest I was looking forward to them bringing back a lot of the Pinoy comedic clichés. Like the slapstick opening where they’d somehow end up hijacking a cariton, and creating havoc on a busy street sending joggers, sobeteros, and pregnant women flying off the streets to avoid them. Or where they’d have a big beach outing where everyone is invited and they’d do a dance number to the tune of the film’s title. And who could forget how they’d join forces to rescue the leading ladies that were kidnapped; armed only with dos-por-dos against the goon’s armalite (sic) because the police always arrives late.

But, to my disappointment, I didn’t like it. Yes, the scenes that had the Escalera brothers (topped with Jimmy Santos) in it were hilarious; but the parts with Vic Sotto and his Indiana Jones adventures were really tiring. My theory is that they wanted to insert parts were children and people who we like to call mababaw ang kaligayahan can relate to in the movie, thus the Enteng Kabisote inspired parts, when it should be about a reunion. Sure there was a reunion, five minutes of it, which reminded me of skits we did in my Values Education class in high school. And to think, all that publicity about bailing Richie the Horsey out for the film, when he only said two lines in one scene.

At least the scenes on the Escalera brothers were there to save it. I have no words to describe it, except that I think that only true Pinoys can get the humor Tito and Joey brought to the film. If you saw the movie, then I hope you know what I mean. I also thought that Jimmy Santos was great in the movie, especially his “Hapon” running jokes.

So if you haven’t seen Iskul Bukol and you’re a fan of the Tito, Vic and Joey; I suggest that you just watch it on DVD I’m sure you’ll easily find it in Quiapo. Or wait for GMA to show it in a year or so on TV; they wouldn’t bleep anything because the bleeped parts are part of the joke. It’s still in theaters but don’t waste your 170php. If you like the Okay Ka Fairy Ko franchise, then go see it, but if you’re after the rare chance to see TV&J back in action, you won’t get your money’s worth. I know I didn’t.

 

 

Year End Special

2008 was a big year for me. It was the year I finally get around to learning to sew. It was also the year that I was unemployed for three whole months after a four year love affair with the call center industry. It was the year when I finally get to work in a real office and finally get a job title of a writer (even though I don’t exactly do any writing). It was a year where although I must admit that I am still adjusting to, tell myself every day that I must be mature and act like a grown up. It was the year that I got married and became the Diplowife.

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JG and I didn’t really discuss how we were going to spend Christmas or the New Year because as I expected, we wouldn’t agree on anything; mostly because we both got used to very different ways of spending Christmas. I grew up to a big noisy Christmas, while JG prefers to spend it quietly. I tried to talk to ask him about our Christmas plans, which as predicted, only ended in a huge fight.

We did manage to compromise: we would spend the day doing a little of his Christmas thing and little of mine. However I did find myself a little gloomy on Christmas Eve, but I guess it’s really hard to let go of something you have been used to for years.

My MIL (mother in law) spent the 24^th preparing a simple Noche Buena of her Menudo and Chicken Afritada, also with my Penne Carbonara and our joint efforts of Lasagna. On Christmas day; the plan was to catch the T. V. & J. Iskul Bukol reunion flick and then go to our house to attend a Christmas get-together with my family. But as nothing always turns out the way I expected in my life, we had a hard time getting a jeepney, had a little setback with lunch at a Chinese restaurant, and couldn’t get tickets for the afternoon showing of the film. I got a little cranky I admit, I was afraid that JG would decide to ditch my family; to me Christmas was the only time you could be with your family and was really having a hard time to understand that I might miss all that because of a movie. (Not to mention that if we get posted next year, this might be my last holidays to see my family) So holding my temper, I told JG that we could always watch the movie some other time, but he was determined to see it.

As pissed as I was, I also didn’t want our first Christmas to be about a memorable fight so I decided to just let it go. And JG didn’t make things more difficult and agreed to once again compromise. So we decided to buy tickets for a later showing of the film, visit our house while we wait.  

So we went to see my family which really made my day, plus the fact that while we were there, I was surprised and really happy to see JG joking around with my family, and something he didn’t really do when he visits. And we really had a good time watching the movie and were still on high spirits even though it ended really late and still had a hard time catching a ride home.

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I always thought that everyone goes to Baguio during the summer, thus the title “summer capital”. My MIL always mentioned that she wanted to go there, also JG who has always been a fan of places with cool climates; and since my lucky husband mentioned that he might get a fat bonus, we decided to have a four day vacation after the 25^th and come back for the New Year.

However he did say that he “might” get a bonus, so we waited until we made plans and reservations. Which was a bad move on our part because by the time JG received his bonus, we couldn’t find a hotel to stay in as it was all booked.

One thing I can say about JG is that when he wants something he really doesn’t give up that easily; he kept asking me to call the travel agency to ask if anyone had cancelled. As it turned out my mom knew someone who lives there that help us get a place to stay. She did find us a house, but the catch was that we were going to be staying with an old couple who owns the place. Unfortunately, another thing I can say about JG is that he doesn’t like to live, even for a short period, in a place where he has to share the bathroom with strangers. And that was basically the end of plans to visit Baguio. I guess we just have to find another time to visit.

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December 31, 2008, no doubt about it was a memorable day for me. Aside from it being the last day of the New Year, it is also my Mom’s birthday. And although I got to visit during the day this is the first that I wasn’t going to be at home at midnight. But I was really looking forward to a quiet New Year with JG and his Mom, because it is my new home, plus the fact that I HATE fireworks.

And now I hate fireworks 10 tens more, because last night a couple of hours before midnight, the apartment three doors down caught fire. They said a kind of firework found its way through their windows which caused the fire. Fortunately, firefighters came fast enough to stop it from spreading specifically to our apartment. I cannot explain how afraid I was, and I kept praying so hard for God not to let it happen to me again, as I knew that I would forever think of myself a jinx to experience getting house burned twice in my lifetime. It was one of the longest two hours of my life.

There are also some things that I realized with the fire. One, no matter how many times a big emergency such as a fire happens to you, you will never be able to get it together. I was hysterical, and was no where near brave. I kept praying out loud, asking our neighbors for help; I did manage to get some valuables in a bag, but later realized that I still left important stuff like documents and money. You would think I would know what to do, but no. And two, I got a chance to see JG in a midst of a crisis. Not that I was hoping for one just so I can test the abilities of my husband, but I was always afraid that since he’s so quiet and always keeps to himself that he would freeze or worst get a heart attack in times of need. But he was really brave and got everything together. In fact in the midst of everyone’s panic he was the only one who had the sense to call the fire department. And although he had to keep walking around to see the fire truck coming, he always remembered to come back to me and give me a comforting hug. Now I know that I could depend on him to be strong when I am scared out of my wits.

I still cringe at the thought of our house catching fire, or if the fire fighters did not come on time. But thank God a thousand times that everyone is safe and our house is okay. But one last thing, whenever you think of how shitty things are whether you’re not pretty enough, or successful enough, or good enough for anything; when bad things like that happen, it reminds you of how lucky you really are. It reminds you to be thankful and appreciate what you have and the people around you.