Pacquiao — warts and all

A collaborative effort on the part of FLT Films and Star Cinema, the Pacquiao movie comes to us with "timing" written all over it. You can’t drive down EDSA without his smiling face gazing at you every hundred yards. You’re bombarded by his TV commercials and print ads, and come July 2, one can only hope that our Manny will put Oscar Larios on the first galleon ship heading back to Mexico.

So what is this film like? Beyond the hype that surrounds this living hero, the prayers we send up to the heavens each time he enters the ring, can the film stand on its own merits?

Directed by proven master Joel Lamangan, with story and screenplay by Roy Iglesias, and boasting of a stellar cast that includes young thespian Jericho Rosales as Manny, and Bea Alonzo as his wife; Pacquiao, The Movie is first and foremost a dramatic biopic. It does not attempt to challenge the likes of Rocky or Million Dollar Baby as a seminal boxing film. While more than half of the film is situated in the boxing ring, these moments in the ring as utilized more as a means to propel the story that unfolds, rather than being the undisputed focus of the film.

In this film, it is not the case of the drama providing mere interludes for the fight sequences. And perhaps this is precisely why a director like Lamangan was tapped. More akin to a film like Ray (biopic of Ray Charles), you substitute singer with boxer, and you get an idea of what this film’s "mission vision" seems to be.

With this film, that I was made to understand had Manny’s approval in terms of script and story content, one is shown Pacquiao as a very human character. Despite the hero status we accord him, his blemishes, flaws, mistakes and losses are all given the spotlight, and the attempt is made to delve into Pacquiao, the person, not just the figure the nation idolizes.

The paternity issue, his womanizing, his defeats and the reasons for them, the mismanagement problems and court case, the brawling and cockfighting, the flirtation with drugs during an unstable period – these are all taken up in the film. And if there is a fault, it would be the lack of examination of motive or reason. Instead, the film unflinchingly relates how these things happen, but seems to stop short of going to the lengths Ray went into in extracting gut-wrenching drama from these character flaws.

Jericho is excellent as Pacquiao. Mimicking Manny’s Bisaya accent, Echo slips on the Pacquiao persona like a glove, and provides both pathos and humor in his portrayal. Bea Alonzo, Bayani Agbayani for comic relief, Jay Manalo, Jaclyn Jose, Tirso Cruz III, Gloria Sevilla and Jiro Manio as the young Manny, all clock in with excellent support, without stealing any of the scenes from our Main Man.

I was at the movie premiere, with Manny and his retinue sitting in the row in front of me. It was funny to notice the ribbing individuals would get as their film versions would appear on the screen. While never less than competent, if I had to find fault with the film, it would have to do with the last quarter, and how at some point, the rapid exposition of events meant that our involvement and sympathy would begin to flag. Just hope that attending this premiere and what other commitments he may have before July 2 will not take away from the focus and concentration Manny should maintain with his pre-fight training.

He is a hero, even if human, that this country still badly needs.