Vhong Navarro and Lovi Poe

“Bar Boys” is the trending barkada movie of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP).

Since the movie opened last August 16, it has generated numerous positive reviews on social media and testimonials during block screenings.

“Bar Boys,” written and directed by young filmmaker Kip Oebanda tells the story if four friends – Josh, Erik, Chris and Toran, who all wanted to go to law school and how they try to keep their bond amid the trials and sacrifices they need to endure. The film shows their bittersweet journey from the day they learn about the results of the entrance exam, until they graduate, take the bar and pursue their heartfelt dreams.

This barkada movie stars Carlo Aquino. Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda and Kean Cipriano with Anna Luna and Odette Khan in a very special role as a law professor. Also starring are Miles Kanapi, Sebastian Castri, Hazel Faith dela Criz, Pontri Bernardo, Maey Bautista, Rener Concepcion, Irene Celebre, Vance Larena and Lharby Policarpio.

Over 50 groups such as fan clubs of Rocco and Enzo, law school graduates, student organizations, law firms, college departments and civic organizations have mounted sold out block screenings of “Bar Boys” – helping propel the film to become one of the top box-office draws of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

Many of the comments on social media describe the film as “inspiring and entertaining.”

Director Erik Matti sent a message of congratulations to Direk Kip, comparing Kip’s work to an iconic youth flick from the 80s and praising its concept and cast.

“I liked ‘Bar Boys,’ bagets movie ng mga law students,” he said. “Refreshing type of movie. Good ensemble cast. Congrats.”

On Twitter, Alden Richards encouraged his followers to watch the movie of his good friend Rocco Nacino.

Even those who did not go to law school were struck by the film’s message. One of them is a third year medical student who took time from her paper cases to watch “Bar Boys.” She wrote that the movie was very relatable.

“I’ve been waiting since last year. And now I am finally seeing it. It did not disappoint me. You don’t need to be a lawyer, a law student nor a medical student like me, to appreciate and love the film.”

Pep.ph’s reviewer Mari-Ann Santos applauded the screenplay and the whole cast. She said it is a credit to Kip’s engaging scenes and script that sustains the level of humor, blending it with drama. She also gave credit to the ensemble cast.

Not surprisingly, “Bar Boys” is Graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board. Direk Kip said: “We are overwhelmed by the number of people saying they watched it again and again, laughed, cried and got inspired. Hopefully cinemas keep it and that more people can watch it.”

“Bar Boys” is produced by Tropic Frills Inc. and distributed by Quantum Films. For updates, check out the movie’s Facebook page.

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Lovi Poe is better known as a dramatic actress so it is a pleasant surprise that the daughter of Fernando Poe, Jr is also good in comedy.

Joel Ferrer, Lovi’s director in Regal Entertainment’s “Woke Up Like This,” had nothing but praises for her. “I didn’t know that she has a knack for comedy as well,” he says of Lovi who won a Cinemalaya best actress for “Mayohan.”

But Lovi admits she had a hard time portraying a man in “Woke Up Like This.”

“I needed to copy the movement and mannerisms of Vhong because our personalities switched,” said Lovi.

Even if she had already played the role of man, the true essence of a man remains a mystery for her. But she wants it that way. “That’s what makes the character of a man even more interesting,” said Lovi.

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Vhong Navarro was also challenged to play the role of a woman in “Woke Up Like This.” He said it was doubly hard to do it because Lovi’s character speaks English a lot. But he enjoyed it just the same because their director Joel Ferrer, guided him well in his portrayal.

Vhong’s last movie was “Mang Kepweng” shown last January and it’s a good thing that he finds time to do movies even if he’s busy with “It’s Showtime.”

He should do more movies because he is a very good comedian. Vhong hopes that people will enjoy watching “Woke Up Like This,” in the same way that he enjoyed himself doing it.