Two television families merge in ‘Jack Em Popoy’

CEBU, Philippines —  Throngs of moviegoers have made their way to cinemas Christmas Day to catch the eight films of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. Among their choices is the action-comedy flick “Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles.”

“Jack Em Popoy” lead stars Coco Martin, Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza, together with the cast of “Ang Probinsyano,” were recently in Cebu to urge fans to catch their highly-anticipated collaboration.

When Coco revealed that he will be fulfilling his lifelong dream of working with Vic, many have kept tabs on the film which will merge ABS-CBN and GMA-7’s most prized talents.

“Anong iba? Si Coco Martin,” Vic said in an interview following their mall show at the Atrium of Robinsons Galleria. The comedian, an MMFF regular, quipped that Coco makes the biggest difference in his 2018 MMFF entry. Bossing said that his collaboration with the Kapamilya actor alongside Maine is something that happens once in a blue moon.

“Yan ang malaking malaking pagkakaiba. Siyempre si Maine Mendoza. Ito, bihira to eh. Sabi nga ni Coco doon sa kanyang concert, bihira mangyari ‘to na dalawang pamilyang pinagsanib: ang pamilyang ‘Ang Probinsyano’ at pamilyang ‘Eat Bulaga.’ Sa isip natin eh hindi maaaring mangyari dahil magkaiba ang network. Kami sinuswerte na magancda ang naging resulta ng pakiusapan. Eh kaya kami nagsama ngayon,” Vic explained.

Coco could not stress enough how “Jack Em Popoy” is a film about family and was borne out of combining two families: GMA noontime show “Eat Bulaga!” where Vic and Maine appears, and ABS-CBN primetime hit “Ang Probinsyano” starring himself.

“Dati pangarap ko talaga makasama si Bossing. Nilapitan po namin siya. Bakit hindi pa isama si Maine para mas buo, mas masaya ang pamilya?” Coco said with a smile.

“Dahan-dahan naming binuo ang kwento, nag tulong-tulong kami, yun, finally. Sabi nga nila ang ‘Eat Bulaga!’ talagang parang pamilya eh. Sabi ko meron din akong sariling pamilya sa ‘Ang Probinsyano.’ Bakit hindi natin i-combine. Sigurado na pelikulang Pilipino, may values. Sabi namin, ilagay na lahat: action, comedy, romance, drama. Importante, yung values para sa lahat ng kabataan. Pampamilya.”

Apart from putting out a film suitable for the family with elements of action, comedy, and romance, Coco said “Jack Em Popoy” boasts of action scenes bigger than that of his “Ang Probinsyano” sequences.

“Unang-una, bago [ang storya]. Pangalawa, kombinsayon ng strengths, forte namin. Si Bossing pagdating sa komedya, ako naman sa action, si Maine sa comedy at romance. Kumbaga pinagtutulungan namin para mas maganda. Yung script, inayos namin. Yung action pinalaki kasi siyempre napapanood nila gabi gabi sa ‘Ang Probinsyano.’ So mga action scenes, sinigurado namin na malalampasan namin yun,” Coco promised.

While they can’t divulge the plot altogether wary that it might give away vital information, “Jack Em Popoy,” brought by APT Entertainment, CCM Film Productions, and M-Zet Productions, centers on a band of police officers Police S/Insp. Jacinto “Jack” Halimuyac (Coco), Police Officer 1 Emily “Em” Fernandez (Maine), and Senior Police Officer 3 Perfecto “Popoy” Fernandez (Vic). The three come together and take it upon themselves to fight crime.

Maine shared how unbelievable it is that she actually got to enjoy working on an action film. The showbiz sensation had to learn firing, and commended Coco for giving her a boost when it comes to bringing action to the table.

“Hindi ako makapaniwala na na-enjoy ko siya noong una. Kasi first time nga for me. Since first time ko mag action, bilang pulis ang character ko hindi ko siya basta-basta biruin dahil pulis. Challenging pero nagulat ako na na-enjoy ko. Na-excite din ako na makita ang outcome.” Maine said.

“Kasi ang training ko naman is yung firing lessons. So tinuro nya [Coco] sa akin yung iba kasi hindi naman ako action star. Malamya ako talaga. Sobrang matulungin siya sa akin. Hindi lang sa action kundi sa lahat ng eksena.”

Maine hopes that she would get to do more things that will bring her out of her comfort zone. “In the future sana yung as in, seryoso na challenging [action]. Para iba sa karaniwan nilang nakikita sa ‘Eat Bulaga!,” she said.

The “Jack Em Popoy” stars value their film’s effect on viewers most. When asked about their expectations of the action-comedy regarding box office gross, Vic joked that they will surpass the number one spot— before saying: “Hindi, hindi namin iniisip yun [number one]. Iniisip namin na mas marami kaming mapapasaya doon sa aming pelikula na pinag-isipan. Hindi lang basta pelikula...Pag napanood nila, sobra pa sa sulit.”

Directed by Mike Tuviera, “Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles” also stars Arjo Atayde, Tirso Cruz III, Ryza Cenon, Baeby Baste, Cherry Pie Picache, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Ronaldo Valdez, Lito Lapid, Mark Lapid and Ryzza Mae Dizon.