Pinoy films ‘2 Valid IDs,’ ‘Pee Mak’ remake are worth the cinema ticket
If there is one thing connecting these two Filipino movies released in theaters last October 14, it is the idea that you should never doubt your love and loyalty to your partner, no matter how bizarre and complicated things get — which is perhaps the most Pinoy thing about romance.
The two films tell this story differently. The Cinemalaya hit drama “2 Valid IDs” stars one of the country’s best comediennes in a career-defining role, with a story that hits close to home. Meanwhile, the Pinoy remake of a Thai hit film, “Pee Mak,” stars one of the most popular loveteams today and will be best remembered for its unique flavor.
‘2 Valid IDs’: frustratingly realistic but necessary
Pokwang plays Sylvia in “2 Valid IDs,” a woman who takes care of her sick husband, Ramon (Joey Marquez), who has been hospitalized for a lung-related illness for a month as they await his turn for free surgery. With time running out, they are told that transferring to a semi-private hospital might speed up the process.
Sylvia plans to use the remittance money sent by a relative from New Zealand to help pay for Ramon’s treatment. But she is unable to claim it because she does not have two valid government IDs, as her PhilHealth card cannot be used.
Desperate to save her husband, Sylvia decides to pursue whatever government-issued IDs she can obtain, going from the Philippine Post to the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation). Meanwhile, Ramon slowly comes to terms with his mortality, something Sylvia is not ready to accept.
Seeing Sylvia go through the time-consuming process of obtaining an ID in “2 Valid IDs” is perhaps a situation that most, if not all, Filipinos can relate to. The film leaves no stone unturned in depicting how this unnecessarily complicated bureaucratic process works, from having to wait a few days longer because they did not pay for priority processing, to witnessing a well-off applicant receive VIP treatment by getting their ID on the same day.
Director Ma-an L. Asuncion-Dagñalan and screenwriter Abet Pagdagdagan Raz did not need to rely on dramatic tropes to get their points across. The system itself makes Sylvia’s ordeal emotionally difficult, and the experience feels so real that it is easy for audiences to sympathize with her struggle to claim a simple remittance.
While this is not her first dramatic performance, Pokwang continues to impress in her fully dramatic turn as Sylvia, whose portrayal may remind us of an everyday woman we know in our own lives. Much of the film follows her perspective, allowing audiences to feel as though they are accompanying her on her journey to obtain these IDs. Her characterization complements Pokwang’s performance, which balances raw emotion with restraint. It is no surprise that she won Best Actress at Cinemalaya, sharing the award with Ruby Ruiz for “Status Rejected.”
Complementing Pokwang’s performance is Marquez as Ramon. Even as a bedridden and exhausted patient, he conveys the emotional weight of a man who simply wants what is best for his wife, making his portrayal subtly powerful.
Meryll Soriano is a highlight as Mercy with her no-nonsense quips, including a remark about the irony of needing an ID to apply for one. Unsurprisingly, Zaijian Jaranilla is also one to watch as Denver, the ward neighbor of Sylvia and Ramon, who quickly becomes a son-like figure to the couple as he cares for his own grandfather, whose bed is beside Ramon’s.
Be warned that “2 Valid IDs” is not a happy film. Audiences will walk out of the theater feeling frustrated and sad about how realistic its story is. In the absence of a crowd-pleasing narrative, the film shows why cinema is a powerful tool for showcasing the social realities we need to confront. Someone out there may be experiencing the same struggles Sylvia faces right now, and that is not okay. Four and a half stars out of five.
‘Pee Mak’: effective remake without trying to be like the original
Depending on how they feel about Philippine cinema, the idea of a local remake of a beloved foreign movie can either make cinephiles roll their eyes or leave them cautiously optimistic.
What could have been an easy copy-and-paste of the beloved Thai horror-comedy without the nuances needed to make it work in a local setting, the Pinoy version of “Pee Mak” instead carves out its own identity that evokes what made Filipino movies of the 2000s so beloved in the first place.
The synopsis is familiar. Pee (Wilbert Ross) is a war veteran who returns home to reunite with his wife, Mak (Bea Binene). He brings his comrades (Vandolph, Jairus Aquino, TJ Valderrama, and Gian Bernardino) along so he can introduce them to his child, who was born while he was away. But his friends notice that Mak is already dead, something the ever-loving Pee seems unaware of, even as his wife appears before them now as a ghost.
A Filipino adaptation of “Pee Mak” is already a challenge in itself, as the original Thai movie is deeply rooted in its own culture and history — a fact the remake seemingly recognizes. Rather than burdening itself with matching everything that made the original work, the film creates its own flavor by incorporating Filipino culture and mythology, as well as our own sense of humor that allows the remake to stand on its own.
This is hardly surprising, given that comedy is something Cebuano filmmaker Victor Villanueva has mastered. His direction of “Pee Mak” feels nostalgic for Filipino movies of the past, particularly the laugh-out-loud meta-commentary of comedy films, the cheesy but effective chemistry of loveteams, and the heavy reliance on jump scares in horror movies. This version is a campy mash-up of these genres, giving the film a local charm that works so well.
The Pinoy version of “Pee Mak” will be best remembered for its cast, who serve as the cherry on top. In their first feature-length film as a loveteam, Ross and Binene are the right stars to lead the project, which plays to their comedic strengths and helps explain the following their WilBea tandem has earned.
They are complemented by a supporting cast that makes the premise work. His father’s influence comes through in Vandolph’s portrayal of their leader, Teryo. Aquino surprises with his comedic chops as Ayong, while Valderrama makes audiences’ stomachs hurt from laughing as Poknat, whose endless attempts to flirt with the clearly married Mak in front of Pee are hilarious and cringe-inducing. Bernardino, meanwhile, is a scene-stealer in his film debut, delivering impeccable comedic timing that makes his portrayal of the cowardly Bunak so funny and memorable.
Those who miss the campiness of Filipino movies of the past may find themselves enjoying this version of “Pee Mak,” which may tick their nostalgic checkboxes thanks to Villanueva’s comedic direction, the effective chemistry of WilBea, and their equally hilarious and captivating supporting cast. It is a remake that does not try too hard to be like its original, and that may be the strongest element of this film. Three and a half stars out of five.
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