Rom-coms lead MMFF 2015's eight entries
For the first time in a long, long time, the Metro Manila Film Festival has a new look. Sort of.
There are no sequels at all as familiar franchises like “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” “Praybet Benjamin” and “My Big Bossing” are gone, at least for this year’s edition of the annual Filipino movie festival that opens every Christmas Day.
However, MMFF staples like Vice Ganda, Vic Sotto, Kris Aquino and Robin Padilla will still be headlining their respective entries but with new plotlines this time.
Following the critical and commercial success of “English Only, Please” last festival, romantic comedies will come aplenty this Christmas. Kris Aquino’s upcoming movie project with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista is now an official MMFF entry and now has a title, “Mr. and Mrs. Split.”
Vic Sotto is reuniting with his “Enteng ng Ina Mo” costar Ai-Ai d elas Alas in “Rom-comin Mo Ako” which will be directed by Jose Javier Reyes.
Vice Ganda, who topbilled last year’s top-grosser, “The Amazing Praybet Benjamin,” will be teaming up anew with director Wenn Deramas for “Beauty and the Bestie,” which will also star Coco Martin.
MMFF 2013 Best Actor Robin Padilla is back in the festival for the third straight year. This time, he will topbill the horror action thriller “Nilalang” opposite Japanese porn star Maria Ozawa. The film will be directed by Pedring Lopez.
MMFF 2014 Best Actress Jennylyn Mercado returns with a new rom-com that will pair her with JM de Guzman who himself had a sensational comeback with “That Thing Called Tadhana.”
“Walang Forever,” inspired by that famous line in the ABS-CBN teleserye “Forevermore,” will be helmed by Jadaone’s real-life partner, Dan Villegas who also directed last year’s sleeper hit, “English Only, Please.”
As historical films have become de rigueur in the MMFF, this year will see the biopic of another national hero as veteran filmmaker Gil Portes takes on “Hermano Puli,” which will star Aljur Abrenica, Alessandra de Rossi and Enzo Pineda.
Even without “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” the horror genre is still represented with Jun Lana’s “Haunted Mansion” starring Janella Salvador, Mario Mortel and Jerome Ponce while “Death and Senses” starring Rayver Cruz and Jayson Gainza is a horror comedy directed by Randolph Longjas who also helmed the hilarious Cine Filipino hit, “Ang Turkey Man ay Pabo Rin.”
Two reserve entries that were announced by Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino which are intended to replace any film that may withdraw from the festival.
They are Erik Matti’s “Conman” starring John Lloyd Cruz and Meryll Soriano, and “Lakambini” directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil and starring Lovi Poe.
Last year, “Magnum Muslim .357” starring E.R. Ejercito billed as Jeorge Estregan was a last-minute replacement for the now aborted big screen version of “Be Careful with My Heart.”
Ejercito, a festival headliner for four successive years, reportedly submitted two projects for consideration, one of which was “SAF 44,” his tribute to the fallen police commandos, but both did not make the cut.