Why direk GB is wearing that Kepweng smile

MANILA, Philippines – Direk GB Sampedro is wearing a happy face on the second day of the screening of his film, Mang Kepweng Returns which grossed over P8M on opening day.

“That means our hunch is right that there are still people who subscribe to Chiquito’s brand of humor and that Vhong Navarro was just the right person to revive it,” he says.

The response was such direk Sampedro said another sequel might be in the offing. “This latest Kepweng is not a sequel. It is totally another film with different story. But we must admit this was still inspired by the mass acceptance of earlier Chiquito hits.”

Like it or not, Vhong and Chiquito have uncanny parallels early in their showbiz life.

Vhong was born 20 years before Chiquito’s demise and admits he caught up with the funnyman’s career and easily connected with the late comedian.

Even their initial movies looked like they were conceived with one school of sense of humor in mind.

Chiquito (March 12, 1932 – July 2, 1997) sang and danced his way to the Manila Grand Opera House and was a natural funnyman. He was earlier identified with Manila’s bodabil circuit and earned popularity for his skill in dancing the boogie-woogie.

Vhong whose dancing prowess was honed by his joining the popular dance group called Streetboys also popularized the dance hits The Sign, Ragga Muffin Girl, Tootsie Roll, among others.

Like Chiquito, Vhong was further perceived as a natural funnyman in the Streetboys’ movie Spirit Warriors directed by Chito Roño.

“Yes, I caught up with some of the movies of Papang (Chiquito) and I must say they really resonate with moviegoers with simple appreciation for his brand of humor,” says Vhong. “I easily identified with him and when this offer came, of course, I took it as an opportunity to pay tribute to him. After all, he entertained quite a big percentage of moviegoers with his films that did well in the box office.”

Direk Sampedro knew what he was up to with this project.

After all, who among the millennials will remember the 1979 film of comedian-politician Chiquito called Mang Kepweng and their sequels, Mang Kepweng Part 2 (1981) and still another sequel, Mang Kepweng and Son (1983)?

Opines direk Sampedro: “Of course, I am aware I am dealing with new audiences quite different from the audience of Chiquito in the ’70s, ’80s and the ’90s. There is no escaping the millennials who now dominate the movie audiences. And so we have to upgrade our story and make it more appealing for today’s audiences. I admit it takes more than antics to make them laugh. They are so connected with their gadgets I am sure they’d find the movie’s kind of humor strange. We took this as a challenge. We had scenes referring to their gadgets but we knew the appeal of this movie is accepting the character of (Mang Kepweng) for what he is. He may look and sound naïve most of the time but it is that same quality that induces people to laugh at his antics no matter how old school his brand of humor is. We admit it is tough to make people laugh these days, especially the high-tech audiences. But it is when they discover Mang Kepweng’s basic humanity that they find reasons to laugh at his character.”

Thursday night at the cinema, we ventured to watch Vhong’s recreation of Mang Kepweng’s son.

What we discover is that audiences laugh at his lines. They laugh at his ability to re-live his father’s quack doctor days and they laugh at his magic bandana and what it could do to parry off evil spirits. Pen Medina is evil personified, Jaclyn Jose remains a loving mother to Mang Kepweng’s inheritor in distress and Kim Domingo is beauteous enough as an amorous foil to a funny man’s sensual yearnings.

To be sure, Mang Kepweng Returns is not in the realm of Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank or a typical Vice Ganda starrer.

Its appeal is in recalling the late funny man’s adventure at the Manila Grand Opera House or probably Clover Theater when laughter can be elicited while cracking nuts inside the theater.

Chiquito’s rebirth in the person of Vhong is a reminder that once upon a time in our cinema history, people laugh at everyone’s foibles and it took so little to win a loved one to your side.

And that is by clowning your way to her heart.

Mang Kepweng Returns is still showing in cinemas.