2 feel-good films to light up the dark times

With the world in turmoil (the anthrax scare, the Mindanao crisis, the puzzling death of Nida Blanca, etc.), it felt good to have watched two local films with very light themes: Trip and Ano Bang Meron Ka?

Trip is about a group of friends who take a break in a private resort in Caliraya. It is during this vacation that the viewers get to find out the backgrounds of the characters in this film. Joboy (Marvin Agustin) is the narrator. He is the most mature in the group. He is the type of person who will readily go out of his way to solve other people’s problems.

He works out, for instance, the problem of Louie (Onemig Bondoc) who is crushed when he finds out that his politician-father (Ronaldo Valdez) has a mistress (Ana Capri). But that is not the only problem of Louie. Later, it is also revealed that he has also gotten his girlfriend Ola (Desiree del Valle) pregnant and he is not yet prepared to marry her.

Another major character in the film is Celine (Kristine Hermosa) who is still in love with her childhood sweetheart Erwin (Jericho Rosales) — to the chagrin of her steady, Ram (Paolo Contis).

Then, there’s the tandem of Faye (Heart Evangelista) and Athan (John Pratts), whose older sister, Nadine (Julia Clarete) turns out to be a lesbian.

Written by Enrico Santos and directed by Gilbert Perez, Trip tries to present some of the problems and adventures encountered by today’s youth: teen pregnancy, young love, misunderstanding with parents and even identity crisis. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t have all the time in the world to really thresh out each and every issue that affects youngsters of today. And with so many characters involved begging for equal screen time, the film only succeeds in scratching the surface of the problems presented in the movie. (But I take my hat off to Enrico Santos for having been able to nearly intertwine the lives of the numerous characters in the film.)

Trip, however, is still a delight to watch because it is filled with so many inventive scenes that are calculated to entertain the viewers. In fact, this is one movie that doesn’t have a single dull moment in it.

Much of the fun is provided by the tandem of Heart Evangelista and John Pratts. It is Marvin Agustin, however, who really stands out in the movie. Fans of Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales, unfortunately, may feel disappointed because the Pangako Sa’yo stars are unable to reprise their screen romance at length in this film due to lack of time.

Ano Bang Meron Ka? — in contrast — has plenty of time to spare (what with only two major characters) but does not use it wisely.

Directed by Maryo J. de los Reyes, this film casts Joyce Jimenez as a party organizer who writes a column on the side. At a resort, she has a one-night stand with Diether Ocampo who owns a posh watering hole in Manila where they continue with their romance. Unfortunately, Joyce is already engaged to KC Montero. Diether, in turn, is also taken — except that his businesswoman — girlfriend, Georgina Sandico, is forever busy and doesn’t seem to have time for him.

When they break off with their respective engagements, they suddenly find themselves both free. But pride gets in the way and they still don’t and up with each other. Then, there are other circumstances that open up and try to pave the way for them to just come sailing into each other’s arms, but they still don’t end up a couple.

Eventually, it comes to a point when the viewer no longer cares even if Joyce Jimenez ends up with Qua-somondo — and Diether Ocampo, with Alice the Goon (that giant of a woman hopelessly in love with Popeye in the cartoon series).

Actually, the other facet of Diether’s screen character is far more interesting — as a doting uncle to the dying daughter (Isabella de Leon) of her cousin (Marissa Sanchez).

And what a scene stealer Isabella de Leon is! Given bigger roles on TV and in the movies, she could be another child wonder.

Marissa Sanchez also delivers a wonderful performance as a separated woman enjoying the last few days of her child in this world. In the comic sequences, she is engagingly funny. But in the dramatic scenes, she is careful not to go overboard with her theatrics.

Another secondary player in Ano Bang Meron Ka? who provides comic touches to the film is John Lapus. As Joyce Jimenez’s gay confidante, he never misses any opportunity to throw in the right comic punches.

Lead stars Joyce Jimenez and Diether Ocampo don’t do badly, either. Jimenez has improved immensely as an actress and Ocampo — in time — will most likely join the league of Christopher de Leon, Richard Gomez and Aga Muhlach as a top leading man in local films.

Ano Bang Meron Ka?, incidentally is also the last film of Nida Blanca. Here, she plays the mother superior-aunt of Diether. It may be a small part, but Nida Blanca, being Nida Blanca, she manages to add color to this otherwise insignificant role.

As for the movie-itself, it definitely won’t be counted among the year’s important films. But it’s not really a bad movie. Except for Joyce and Diether’s tiring and boring hit-and-miss romance, Ano Bang Meron Ka? has a lot of touching moments (mostly concerning the dying) that tug at the viewers’ heartstrings. It’s one film that could take off your mind momentarily from the problems of this world.