SUNNY brings vibrance to Philippine cinema!

 

SUNNY brings vibrance to Philippine cinema!

Viva Films’ latest offering SUNNY is a Philippine movie adaptation of a Korean film of the same title.

It tells the story of seven girlfriends whose friendship started back in high school and reconnected after twenty-plus years when one of the SUNNY girls got terminally ill.

Viva Films 1990s popular young stars Vina Morales, Angelu De Leon, Sunshine Dizon, Ana Roces, Tanya Garcia, Katya Santos, and Candy Pangilinan lead the present time SUNNY barkada while gen-Z Viva stars Heaven Peralejo, Bea Binene, Aubrey Caraan, Abby Bautista, Ashtine Olviga, Ashley Diaz, and Heart Ryan play the young SUNNY girlfriends.   

The movie is undeniably heart-warming and funny. It will make you reminisce about your high school days and the friendships you built over the years.

It’s also a realization that life is short, it’s never too late to rekindle your solid bond with old pals. In addition, the film speaks about loving your true self, recognizing and going back to your real core as a beautiful, and unique person.

Three elements in the film struck me the most as a viewer. They are the narrative, musical scoring, and acting.

Although this is an adaptation, screenwriter Mel Mendoza del Rosario cohesively narrates the past and present story  without confusing the viewers. Mel del Rosario lives with her expertise in writing another heartwarming friendship-themed and relationship-driven screenplay (some of her screenplays were Second Chances, Miracle Cell No.7, DoReMi, and Campus Girls amongst others). Never a dull scene in the film. Viewers are glued until the closing credits.   

The musical scoring of SUNNY effectively sets the emotional pull in dramatic and comedic highlights too. The OG,and Gen Z Viva girls are credible in portraying their roles but the music bed added more intensity to the scenes.  Viewers will have emotional transitions for most of the movie. You’ll laugh at how crazy the young girls are and next scene, you’ll cry like a river when the current Sunny ladies narrate their different circumstances. If you are a “Batang 90s”, you will appreciate the film soundtrack including Donna Cruz’ “Kapag Tumibok ang Puso”, Prettier than Pink “Cool Ka Lang” and Eraserheads' “ With A Smile”. All these three songs will bring back so many memories of your youth, that I bet! Aside from the 90s hit songs as references, the Video City and TGIS feature will make your time warp.

The acting of the leading ladies is remarkable. Each of the fourteen actresses is given highlights and each of them easily stands out. Vina Morales(the present Annie) and Angelu De Leon (the present Chona) are back to lead star status proving that they can still do the chops! In their hospital bed scene, both actresses will surely make you cry. The scene of Katya Santos (the present Becky) confessing her real circumstances to Vina and Candy Pangilinan (the present Dang) will pierce your heart. Heaven Peralejo’s (the young Annie) discovery of her dream boy and co-Sunny member Sue (played by Aubrey Caraan) kissing will break your heart as if you were in your teenage years again. The funeral scene of one of the lead stars where the six other Sunny girls reunite and hear the last will is cathartic.

And it’s not only the crying scenes that are astounding, the bright and bubbly personas portrayal of Chona (Bea Binene) Dang (Candy Pangilinan & Abby Bautista), Gwen (Sunshine Dizon, Ashtine Olviga), Becky(Heart Ryan), and Janet (Ashley Diaz, Tanya Garcia) are noteworthy as well.

Although in reality, the 1990s Viva young stars are not of the same age (Vina, Ana, and Candy are older than Angelu. Angelu is older than Sunshine, Tanya, and Katya), director Jalz Zarate executes and makes the audience believe that they belong to the same age group because of the actresses’ outstanding chemistry, charm, and wit. Kudos to Direk Zarate for beautifully crafting the film.

Overall, SUNNY is an entertaining and quality movie. It’s a must-see this month. Rarely that we see a Pinoy movie that strikes a balance of quality and entertainment. SUNNY has both. The PHP350 is worth spending and even watching it again. 

In my personal opinion, SUNNY brings vibrance and sunshine to the Philippine cinema!

"Sugod mga SUNNY" to theaters near you!

ctto Viva Films for the poster

My rating: 9/10

 

MALLARI:  Ambitious horror film that failed to sustain its grandeur.

 

One of the most anticipated films in the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival is “Mallari”. The film drumbeaters positioned it as an avant-garde in the local horror genre. Warner Bros. even inked an agreement to distribute Mallari in the international market. It has a box-office appeal too and eventually ended as the second in box-office gross. Mallari also received numerous awards including second Best Picture in MMFF.   

“Mallari,” is inspired by the true story of Fr. Severino Mallari, considered the country’s first documented serial killer in the 1800s.

There are three main characters in the film which were all played by A-lister actor Piolo Pascual.

They are Father Severino Mallari, John Rey Mallari, and Jonathan Mallari De Dios. The three characters were presented from different eras but had a chance to interact due to astral travel subplot of the story.

Fr. Severino Mallari is the priest in Pampanga who killed 50+ bad people in his town to save his mother Dona Facunda (played by Gloria Diaz).

John Rey Mallari is a descendant from the 1900s during the US- Japanese era in the Philippines who discovered the secrets of the Mallari clan.

Dr. Jonathan Mallari De Dios is from the present time who returned to Pampanga to find a cure for his fiancée Agnes (played by Janella Salvador)

 

STRENGTHS

The film has efforts to be grand in production values. Its visuals set the bar in the local horror genre.

The cinematography is top-notch as it undeniably displayed the texture and color to depict the gore and scare of the film.

The production design is visually on point. The costume, set design, and backdrop of the period scenes take the audience believably in the 1800s and 1900s era.

The musical scoring creates fear and panic.

The portrayal of its lead and supporting actors is commendable. Piolo Pascual delineates his three personas with a T. He is very effective in his Father Mallari part. Gloria Diaz is remarkably good as Father Mallari’s aging mother.  JC Santos is deserving of his Best Supporting Actor win. His performance especially towards the middle part of the movie when the twist was revealed is a must-see.  Even the “mangkukulam” assistants were scene stealers. The audience gets frightened and at the same time mad at them.

WEAKNESSES

The execution of the horror scenes is not consistent. Some of the scenes tried so hard to scare the audience and fall flat. Some tactics are repetitive.

The time travel element of the script could have been more cohesive. The two Mallari characters can time travel which reveals some important twists in the movie but could have been presented more clearly.  Johnrey’s character could have been explored more to show its backstory.

The movie is marketed as a horror film but often it is the crime-suspense angle gets more evident.

Overall, I still liked Mallari given the efforts of the director and writer to come up with a different flavor in the local horror genre. Actors portrayed their parts with brilliance.

Rating:

8.5/10

ctto: Mentorque production and Warner Bros.