If Jane Austen had written the novelization of This Guy’s In Love With You, Mare
Some weeks ago the Asian Wall Street Journal ran a feature on a Filipino director who declared that “Gay movies don’t sell in the Philippines.” Was he misquoted, or was he being disingenuous? Uh…Facifica Falayfay, Ang Tatay Kong Nanay, Kumander Gringa, Kaming Mga Talyada, Tubog Sa Ginto, Zombadings, In My Life, Petrang Kabayo…
The biggest blockbuster in the history of Philippine cinema, we’re told, is Praybeyt Benjamin starring Vice Ganda. Whose latest outing This Guy’s In Love With You, Mare is packing them in. Have you seen it?
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
October 16th, 2012 at 08:03
I haven’t watched “This Guy’s In Love With You, Mare,” but apparently my friends thought it was funny.
I’m iffy because “Praybet Benjamin” was the worst thing ever, and the “Petrang Kabayo” remake was an affront to the original. I personally think Vice G., though he used to be funny, has become one note of late with his films. However, given my friends thought TGILWYM was funny, and they didn’t like Praybet, maybe I’ll try.
As for the Pinoy director who thinks gay films don’t sell here, that is indeed untrue.
Aside from the (relatively) mainstream stuff you listed, the indie market is always coming up with a new gay-themed flick.
True, most of these indie gay flicks are crap nowadays (gone, it seems, are the early to mid-2000s very good day indie flicks,), and it’s almost always just an excuse for (badly-acted, badly-written, badly-done) soft-core porn masquerading as art. However, there is a niche market for this, apparently, as otherwise why would these indie producers keep on churning ’em out?
October 16th, 2012 at 16:11
Self-correcting:
* gone, it seems, are the early to mid-2000s very good GAY indie flicks…
October 16th, 2012 at 22:38
I only watch Filipino movies that you did a good review on. Hence, I’m waiting for you to watch it :)
October 17th, 2012 at 10:39
Two semesters ago, I found myself watching Vice Ganda’s remake of Petrang Kabayo at a carinderia. Did not like it.
One of the things I noticed about that movie (and I’m wondering if it’s true about Benjamin or This Guy’s In Love With You) is that there’s wayyyy too much emphasis on him trying to get the guy; in fact, one of the insults that gets him angry enough to turn into a horse is “Wala kang love life!” This rubs me the wrong way for the following reasons:
1) I don’t remember Dolphy or Roderick Paulate having to do this in their movies.
2) Jessica, you mentioned Ang Tatay Kong Nanay and In My Life in your list, which is interesting because the (openly) gay protagonists in those movies are in happy, committed relationships where the other man is not a benefactor. There are so many other examples out there of movies in the Philippines that view homosexuality in this progressive manner… and yet, we’re supposed to laugh at a flamingly gay man who chases after a hot, straight guy who’s not that into him, no matter what the cost?
3) Speaking of which: If any of Vice’s movies (except for Petrang Kabayo) had been made with a biological female – whether it’s Sarah Geronimo or Eugene Domingo – her character would still look weak, spineless, and desperate, whether she gets the guy or not. Pathetic ang dating kung babae ang naghahabol, pero OK lang kung becky?
4) No, seriously, kahit na ba schtick lang niya yun at stage name lang daw yung “Ganda”: Ganoon ba kababa ang self-esteem ni Mr. Viceral?