Desperately seeking love

Film review: Desperadas

Desperadas is the third entry of Regal Entertainment to the ongoing Metro Manila Fim Festival. Directed by Joel Lamangan, and penned by Roy Iglesias, the film boasts of a cast headed by four formidable ‘leading ladies’. We have Iza Calzado, Rufa Mae Quinto, Ruffa Guiterrez, and this year’s darling, Marian Rivera, all playing half-sisters, thanks to their mother’s (Nova Villa) prodigious capacity to fall in love with man after man. The film is conceptually ‘old hat’ We’ve seen these women bonding in films from time immemorial, from Working Girls, to Bridal Shower, but what gives Desperadas its unique flavor is the upscale social status of the four ‘sisters’, and the film’s intent to grant us a glimpse into the world of ‘women who lunch’, and those who enjoy financial success thanks to the professional careers they’ve chosen.

Rufa Mae (Patricia) is a renowned sex therapist/author, married to a banker (Wendell Ramos) with his own dark secret. Iza (Stephanie) is an uptight lawyer, wanting to spice up her married life with her gynecologist/husband (TJ Trinidad), and finally have that first child. Ruffa (Isabella) is the pasaway free spirit/unwed mother, carrying on with a singer (Jay-R), and is sitting on a time bomb of financial concerns. Marian (Courtney) is a male underwear designer, and at the film’s start, has plans to marry a basketball star (Will DeVaughn). As can be expected, the film revolves around relationship issues, intimacy problems, shifting loyalties and special friendships among the sisters, and our being placed in the front seat of this slugfest of bithchiness, one-upmanship and merry go round of changing partners.

It’s from this set-up that much of the humor and entertainment derives from. And it is diverting, frothy stuff, although at times, one wonders if the film would have been more engrossing if done as pure satire and send-up a la Temptation Island. Instead, we have a film that chugs along as light romantic comedy then suddenly shifts into a more serious vein with the introduction of issues like breast cancer. The shift in itself I don’t have a problem with, but this issue isn’t fully developed.

If there are special mentions to be made with the support cast, I’d say to look out for the maids of the two Ruf(f)as. They steal the scenes each time they’re given the chance, and ‘jam’ wonderfully with the main characters.

Similitude is an important aspect of how successful this film will be, given that the milieu we’re being presented with is one the general audience may not be that familiar with, or only see in the pages of magazines. I know that Taglish is of common usage in that segment of society, but it would have helped if more care was given to when the characters do slip into English. On this count, Iza and Ruffa are more at ease with the English phrases and full lines, and their characters ring with more credibility. Sure, we are dealing with caricatures and the larger than life aspect of the portrayals add to the humor; but one would hope that given this isn’t Temptation Island, one could also get nuance and subtlety. But perhaps that’s just my wishful thinking.

There is an important message about breast cancer at the end of the film, and if this film will be watched and the audience heeds the message, the film will have been of great service beyond its’ entertainment value. Essentially a light comedy about women and family, Desperadas is a topical glimpse into the world of luxury and brand names, showcasing that in this world as well, love is a precious commodity.