Blonde on the run

The stereotypical Filipino film tends to deal with one too many clichéd plots simultaneously, while also being a distasteful hodgepodge of too many genres. In such movies, what usually happens is that the audience gets confused and loses focus on what is actually going on in the film. To illustrate, imagine the typical rags-to-riches Cinderella story but with a bit of action, a bit of slapstick comedy, and some mild sexual content; just a bit of cleavage here and there to rake in ticket sales. To top it all off, there is the routine song-and dance number somewhere towards the end of the film, where all the leading actors and scantily-clad actresses go skipping and prancing to a tacky tune down a waterslide at Splash Island or Gubat sa Ciudad, or some place like that.

The outcome isn’t really a movie. In the end, it’s more of a showcase of artistas and how many of these a so-called director can cram into one movie reel.

All this contributes to a pretty superficial and, quite honestly, unintelligent movie viewing experience. Everyone leaves the cinema no smarter than they were the second they entered. True, people don’t always want to learn something when they watch movies because movies are meant to be a form of leisure and are watched with the intention of relaxing and unwinding. A little substance and movie production know-how, however, never really hurt anyone.

Peque Gallaga’s Pinoy Blonde is a far cry from the stereotypical Filipino movie. There is no melodramatic and overused storyline, the soundtrack is excellent, and the actors and actresses are actually acting and not just being filmed. The cinematography and technical aspect of the movie are surprisingly good; the integration of animation and special effects in the film are tastefully done to the benefit of the whole Pinoy Blonde movie experience. Even the marketing of the film was carried out and thought of quite well, with catchy radio and TV commercials, as well as interestingly designed print ads in the national dailies. The film truly does follow its promotional slogan: "Hindi typical Pinoy film. Astig." Indeed.

The casting crew of the film did a superb job in selecting actors and actresses for Pinoy Blonde. Epy and Boy2 Quizon have a natural chemistry on camera, and easily play off of each other’s wit. Each one can approximate when the other is going to do something and hence, react fittingly to it. Both young men have the genes of the King of Philippine Comedy, Dolphy, and are funny in their own way, showing their potential as possible comedy greats in the future. The supporting cast is excellent as well, with top acts including Iza Calzado, Jaime Fabregas, and Ricky Davao all carrying out their roles superbly.

The film’s plot is simple enough. A dying Uncle Tong tells his two nephews Conrad and Andrew, played by Epy and Boy2 Quizon respectively, to deliver a paper bag to the third floor of the abandoned Hotel Maricopa. They are to bring it over and exchange it with someone for another package. The building is rundown and decrepit, located in a dubious-looking part of town. This barely scratches the surface of the entire story, but what takes place after the two cousins reach their destination is a wild and funny ride – a ride the typecast Filipino movie doesn’t usually take us on.

Aside from the excellent casting and the unusual movie pace and storyline is the Pinoy Blonde film soundtrack. The sound engineering is done perfectly and song clips are cut into movie scenes appropriately, producing the right effect on the right scenes. The Philippines’ current top musical acts grace the soundtrack including Kapatid, Radioactive Sago Project, Kjwan, Sugarfree, Imago, and Makatha, to name a few. The contribution these bands made to the film goes beyond being a mere part of the soundtrack. They have also helped document the era Pinoy Blonde was made in, as many of the bands in the soundtrack represent the Filipino sound of today.

All in all, Pinoy Blonde is the coming together of the best talents in Philippine entertainment- and pulling it off successfully. So many other Pinoy films try too hard with their star-studded casts, big-time directors, and even bigger budgets. Sadly, these oftentimes end up as flops. Pinoy Blonde is oppositely successful in that respect because it breaks the rules of conventionality and offers something refreshingly different for the Filipino moviegoer. It signals the start of something new and revolutionary, a new chapter in Philippine cinema.

Pinoy Blonde is a much needed and long overdue breakthrough for the Filipino movie. It signals a promising rebirth of the art of Filipino filmmaking and is a true testament to the Filipino’s skill of reinventing and improving himself.