Bearwin Meily: Good guys finish first

It’s easy to see why a Bearwin Meily TV show (e.g. Naks!) is as wholesome as fresh mango juice. The guy stays away from green jokes and toilet humor because he is, deep inside him, as straight as a military man’s perennially upright posture. Unlike other comedians known to be a ladies’ man, Bearwin – just like fellow GMA artist Michael V – has always resisted temptation and remained faithful to his wife.

He extends this no-nonsense stance at home, where he is the self-confessed disciplinarian to his children. Everything must be in its proper place, or else that gentle face will turn grim and foreboding. And the kids had better watch out.

Otherwise, Bearwin is as harmless as Everyman, with antics that aim to amuse, period. Unlike other funnymen whose punchlines put people down, Bearwin’s can hardly hurt a fly.

That’s why his audience is made up mostly of young people who ask him to perform magic tricks for them whenever they see Bearwin in the mall. This is also why Regal Films’ Mother Lily decided to capitalize on Bearwin’s appeal to the masses by casting him in the title role in Hari ng Sablay.

Again, Bearwin plays a role people have loved him for: an underdog who never gets things right; whose luck seems to always lie on the wrong side of the fence. He is – to borrow the title of Sugarfree’s song – Hari ng Sablay himself.

Bearwin is understandably nervous over his first lead role in so many years after he started as John Estrada’s sidekick on ABS-CBN. He knows his sidekick days are over. And he has his own sidekick, Pekto, to remind him of that.

Still, Bearwin would like to think positive.

"When I learned that the playdate was moved from the start of 2006 to Nov. 30, I felt much better," he admits. "Competition is stiffer in January. That’s when many of the big Hollywood films are released."

Now that he has reached lead status, Bearwin thinks it’s payback time. He believes it’s time to give other comedians, especially his co-stars, a helping hand. So he gives punchlines for Tuesday Vargas and Pekto to work on. The wacky ideas, Bearwin says, are there to be shared, not to be kept to himself alone.

The same thing holds true when it comes to Bearwin’s notions about other ways to improve his movie.

"I gave suggestions to Direk Mac (Alejandre, who makes his first comedy after Say That You Love Me and Let the Love Begin). And I’m glad he accepted 80 percent of my contributions," Bearwin points out.

One of them is an interactive magic scene in Hari ng Sablay, where moviegoers from Aparri to Jolo can take turns in guessing what’s in the magic cards.

Another is Bearwin’s aversion to slapstick for its own sake.

"I don’t believe in it," he points out. "If ever I resort to slapstick, it must only be because the situation calls for it."

Slapstick, in other words, will never be the piece de resistance of Bearwin’s brand of humor.

He gets a dash of Vhong Navarro here, a sprinkling of Panchito and Babalu there; little servings of Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler and Rowin Atkinson. Then, Bearwin makes the humor his own.

"I like Panchito and Babalu’s comic timing," Bearwin explains some of his influences. He refuses to pass judgment on Dolphy films simply because "I have yet to see all of them."

Bearwin however, has Dolphy’s penchant for keeping things low-key if needed.

"I don’t see any problem about playing sidekick again after Hari ng Sablay. The important thing is I have work," Bearwin explains.

That, he will surely have in months to come.

Mother Lily is expected to make more films for him, since she signed Bearwin up to an exclusive contract. He is slated to do I Wll Always Love You topbilling Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin.

Bearwin may be Hari ng Sablay on screen, but offcam, he’s turning out to be the exact opposite: The lucky stars are shining bright for this underdog everybody can identify, and ultimately, sympathize with.