An uncomfortable option

Film review: Fallback

MANILA, Philippines — A fallback position can apply to jobs and career. But can it also apply to a relationship?

That is, find someone you can turn to if the first option doesn’t work?

Direk Jason Paul Laxamana explores this ticklish subject in his latest film, Fallback and the preview audience loved every frame of it.

Initially, the film is an out-and-out comedy outing but as the characters find themselves in assorted emotional fix, Jason the screenwriter finds a way to discuss the subject as it applies to day-to-day life.

Indeed, a fallback choice smacks of opportunism but the truth is, it happens when in the end, we are left with no choice but to find someone more to our liking than turning to a**holes who make life miserable.

It is also a telling comment on the Filipino mindset, which prefers saintly tolerance to decisive action.

But as the director earlier pointed out, having a Plan B is pretty much an internal thing among Filipinos even if a study on the same subject was earlier conducted among British subjects.

Through sheer good imagination, direk Jason finds a good way to discuss the subject with humor and how the Filipino takes things lightly. At his expense.

He sizes up a day in the life of a location manager (Rhian Ramos) who makes a mess of every location shooting for the simple reason that she has no Plan B if Plan A does not work.

The character of Tetchie Agbayani — as executive producer and mentor to the character of Rhian — provides the much-needed presence on which to discuss what is known as an uncomfortable option. Her character cites her own love life and how she dumped A because B turned out a bad choice. La Agbayani acquits herself well in this role.

Fair enough.

But the character of Rhian will not have any of it. She is no opportunist. But until something happens to her own love life, she now has the reason to re-examine her attitude and turn to Plan B if only to hold on to something. Just in case.

Apart from its highly imaginative screenplay, Fallback is helped in a large measure by the perfectly natural acting of the lead actors from Zanjoe to Rhian and yes, Tetchie.

And yes, Ricky Davao brings the house down with his hysterically funny portrayal of the gay filmmaker.

Finally, Daniel Matsunaga has a substantial role as the master of Plan B and you will hate him for his true-to-life characterization. A user has never been so real and well-delineated.

On the whole, the film entertains as it informs. In the end, it builds up the fallback option that it is better to be prepared than be caught flatfooted in any relationship.

With one film after another in the past many months, direk Jason remains focused, fresh and interesting even if you imagine he has no more time to do anything else but write and shoot.

While moviegoers find themselves laughing their heads off in Fallback, it is also true that they find a part of themselves in highly-vulnerable characters and situations.

The screenplay of direk Jason is a runaway winner as he brings into the open an uncomfortable subject of having fallback positions on love, life and career.

For this reason, it is the film to watch this week.