John en Marsha, starring the Filipino King of Comedy, Dolphy, was a beloved sitcom that ran from 1973 to 1990. The show centers around John Puruntong (Dolphy,) who elopes and starts a family with Marsha (Nida Blanca), the daughter of a rich family. While trying to make ends meet, he deals with his overbearing mother in law Doña Delilah (Dely Atay-Atayan) and her maid Matutina. The show spawned nine feature films, and for ABS-CBN's latest restoration effort, the seventh film in the series, John & Marsha '85 (Sa Probinsya) was the film chosen for restoration. While John & Marsha '85 follows in the footsteps of the sitcom by delivering Dolphy's trademark humor from start to finish, it takes an interesting turn during its last third that adds an interesting dimension to the series and Dolphy as an artist.
When one of John's close relatives gets sick, said relative summons John and his family to go to her home in the province so that she can at least see them before she dies. While in the province, the Puruntongs adjust to and begin to appreciate the simple life. But internal family squabbles, a shady international corporation and a visit from Doña Delilah seek to shake up the Puruntongs' lives.
Most of the first part of the film consists of a bunch of loosely connected comedic skits, each flavored with Dolphy's trademark comedy. The first two thirds of the film is more slice of life than anything else. Dolphy's comedy finds its roots in parody, wordplay, wit, and physical comedy, and it's a delight to watch.
There's also a distinct fondness for the simple life throughout the film, a love for the good old days. The Puruntongs engage in handicrafts and duck farming to supplement their income while they are in the province, immersing themselves in the lifestyle of their farmer brothers and sisters. And that's not all; a scene in the middle of the film features the male characters engaging in a serenade or harana. It's the film paying tribute to a simpler time, the film embracing an old-fashioned sensibility that can be corny and charming at the same time.
Then suddenly, the film gets darker. A foreign company with ties to local goons (perhaps in the government?) harass and intimidate the Puruntongs and the community of farmers they live with. People start to die (though the effect is somewhat mitigated by comedy). The film becomes political, transforming into an impassioned defense of farmer's rights, the environment, and an attack on international influence on our economy. Granted, Dolphy wasn't subtle about it (he even monologues near the end of the film), the treatment may not be as comprehensive, and the story arc may have wrapped up a bit too neatly, but one has to consider the time in which the film was made. This was 1985, still one year away from the EDSA Revolution. The persecution of farmers back then was a very real thing, and it remains a very real thing even now. For Dolphy to use his comedy show as a sociopolitical platform (during a time when free speech was actively stifled) is quite admirable, a ballsy move. It's not just comedy for comedy's sake; it's purposeful comedy, art for a reason.
Viewing the film is also a bit bittersweet, considering that most of the original cast have passed away. Both Dolphy and Nida Blanca are gone (the latter under tragic circumstances), and Dely Atay-Atayan and Rolly Quizon have also passed away. At the same time, watching John en Marsha '85 is like spending time with old friends; nostalgic, comfortable, and oftentimes hilarious.
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