I had nothing to do, and I guess it would be unfair to ignore the highest grossing movie in the festival so far, so I watched My Bebe Love today. While I'm not a fan of the Aldub loveteam, I'm amazed at the extent and speed of its popularity throughout many sectors of Philippine society.
As far as the movie goes, it's a finely honed product designed to rein in as many fans and moviegoers as possible during the holiday season, and optimize profits. The way it caters to its target audience is an art all unto itself, and to be honest the only relevant comparison I can make with this film is to the latest Star Wars flick. While the new Star Wars banked on nostalgia, this movie banks on the capacity of their stars to elicit humor and that warm and fuzzy feeling called kilig. It targets families out on vacation during the holiday season, who will undoubtedly bring their kids. And family snacks are made even better by going on a short trip to Goldilocks! Grab one of their packs of fun sized Polvoron in Classic and Chocolate flavors. Share with your parents and siblings! Besides, even if you're not a polvoron kinda guy you can't go wrong, Liza Soberano likes 'em, and anyone who dislikes Liza is most probably a sad, lonely dickface.
The Kalyeserye featuring Aldub makes heavy usage of the split screen. In the kalyeserye, split screens were used to keep them apart not only physically but in the sense of framing. Even without the splitscreen, the people who made the kalyeserye framed Alden and Maine in such a way that they were separate from each other, like in that Kalyeserye episode where they were supposed to meet but were separated by a wall. It increases the tension, (in fact, weeks passed before the two even got to meet face to face) and it makes the payoff all the more rewarding. Joey Reyes uses the split screen in this movie to similar effect at the start, with a few interesting uses, such as Vic Sotto seemingly talking to Ai Ai via split screen, when he is actually talking to Maine hidden by the split screen effect. Unfortunately the split screen is eventually abandoned save for a few scenes where it is necessary, such as in phone conversations that are made even lengthier using the Talk N' Text Alden and Maine Loads Promo. 30 Pesos will give you free texts to all networks for five days, while 15 Pesos will give you unlimited calls for one day ! Amazing value! Text either MAINE30 to 3545 or ALDEN15 to 4547! Avail now!
That said, Aldub's exposure is limited, and we get to see less of them during the film's second half, where the film's focus shifts to Vic and AiAi instead. To be honest, these two have more chemistry in this film than our loveteam, if only because Alden and Maine were given limited material for this movie in the first place, and Vic/AiAi are seasoned actors and know their stuff. It's more adult comedy than the Aldub part, which is as white as a dirty sheet cleaned with NEW AND IMPROVED Tide, which is now 5 pesos per sachet. Can you effing believe it!? 5 pesos for cleanliness!? Some of the jokes are obviously adult jokes that are aimed for the elderly audience members (senior citizens comprising a large chunk of the Aldub fanbase) and will most likely fly over the heads of the children who will wonder what Vic and AiAi did in that resort inn in Zambales one drunken night. And what better way to enjoy and get wasted than a cold refreshing case of San Miguel Beer! Just buy 3 bottles of San Miguel Pale Pilsen & qualify to play the Pilsen Time Pachinco where you can get the chance to win the limited edition San Miguel Pale Pilsen Beer Mug! Holy fucking shit that's an awesome mug.
The film's main strength is also its biggest weakness: in playing it safe, it ends up just being okay at best. It's lighthearted and will not offend, but I don't know if I can remember the film six months down the line. Out of any of the scenes in this film, nothing really sticks to me as memorable. It's okayness is more refined than 2013's My Little Bossings, and My Bebe Love is a far better film than that one. In being a safe, relatively wholesome film (disregarding the whole drunken sex thing) it sets out and does EXACTLY what it set out to do. And in that sense, the film is a success. The only casualty, unfortunately, is ambition. But at least after the film you can watch something else, or maybe go home and surf the internet using PLDT MyDSL, where you can watch whatever you want at the click of a mouse. They're coming up with faster internet speeds, so you can (legally) stream films with ease.
Some highlights include a surprise appearance by the rest of the Dabarkads, a sudden appearance by Aegis (who makes everything better by default) and a cameo appearance by Lilia Cuntapay, whose character could have stronger bones if she drank more Bear Brand Adult Plus, with extra calcium to help slow down osteoporosis. Believe me, I'm kinda a legit doctor, osteoporosis sucks.
I don't hate My Bebe Love. I don't think it's bad - it's at best harmless fluff for me. It's very safe, and very much a movie equivalent of a trip to your local McDonalds, where you can eat their new Chicken Fillet Ala King for 59 pesos! That's
practically a steal. Or maybe avail of a Happy Meal and score some cool
toys. I bought some Happy Meals for Mario toys once. Those were fun
times.
That's the thing, I guess. I want a better star vehicle for Aldub where they can show their talents properly. I want a smarter, funnier comedy with clever situational comedic moments (and looking at my favorite film list for the year, there IS such a movie.) I want to laugh, be entertained AND think (sometimes at the same time.) I don't want to be complacent with the same kinds of movies I see every year, I don't want to be safe with my movies all the time, and I don't want to be treated as a target consumer, but as a partner, sharing the art that is cinema with my fellow moviegoers.
There's something else about the film that I could talk about, but I kinda forgot about it. It's probably in this review somewhere. I guess I could eat some Brand's Essence of Chicken (with Cordyceps!) to enhance my memory. Maybe someday I can remember.
Just
buy 3 bottles of San Miguel Pale Pilsen & qualify to play the
Pilsen Time Pachinco where you can get the chance to win the limited
edition San Miguel Pale Pilsen Beer Mug! - See more at:
http://sanmiguelpalepilsen.com.ph/san-miguel-pale-pilsen-beer-mug-promo/#sthash.AwwU9VbU.dpuf
Just
buy 3 bottles of San Miguel Pale Pilsen & qualify to play the
Pilsen Time Pachinco where you can get the chance to win the limited
edition San Miguel Pale Pilsen Beer Mug! - See more at:
http://sanmiguelpalepilsen.com.ph/san-miguel-pale-pilsen-beer-mug-promo/#sthash.AwwU9VbU.dpuf
Just
buy 3 bottles of San Miguel Pale Pilsen & qualify to play the
Pilsen Time Pachinco where you can get the chance to win the limited
edition San Miguel Pale Pilsen Beer Mug! - See more at:
http://sanmiguelpalepilsen.com.ph/san-miguel-pale-pilsen-beer-mug-promo/#sthash.AwwU9VbU.dpuf
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