Kapuso & Kapamilya unleash best youth power

It must be true that the movie industry is already recovering. Otherwise why then would network rivals Star Cinema with The Reunion and GMA Films with Just One Summer find themselves left with a single playdate, Aug. 15, to share? This could be both good or bad, we tell ourselves, depending on the outcome.

We attend the press launch of The Reunion presenting four members of a high school barkada Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil, Kean Cipriano and Xian Lim under the direction of Frasco Mortiz in his first big screen feature. “They get together after many years to trace back their lives and search for the things that went wrong and people whom they’ve hurt in the process,” explains direk Frasco.

Frasco shares his own rise in an industry some attribute to connections with ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio. But those who know better would credit it to hard work and talent, like that of his dad Bobot Mortiz before him. Anyone watching the hilarious ABS gag show Banana Split which Frasco directs will also see the role played by pure and simple genes.  

“The Reunion is the Bagets of the new generation,” notes Enrique Gil, adding that everyone will get entertained with the movie. As they relive the fun of their high school years and trace back their mistakes, how will the quartet right the wrong to change their future? This includes facing the wrongs they had done to former girlfriends Megan Young, Bangs Garcia, Julia Montes and Cristine Reyes.

Enchong solicits the help of his closest buddies Jessy Mendiola and Matt Evans in searching for his ex-high school girlfriend Cristine. The other guilty parties follow suit.

People from the press are immediately caught up in this adventure filled story of adults yearning for the freedom of youth, while aware of the responsibilities of the present. It has been seven years since they graduated from high school. In the interim, reality has caught up with them in various ways. During this trip towards change, their comradeship is tested, the best of friendships are forged. We are certain the movie will take us through a time tunnel of sorts that will bring tears to our eyes. Right, Pilaring, Herman, Inday, Jesse, Passy, Vilma, Ben (our very own high school buddies)?

The Reunion, starring Enchong Dee, Kian Cipriano, Xian Lim and Enrique Gil, is the Bagets of the now generation

Meanwhile, Just One Summer from GMA Films and APT Entertainment is opening on the same date. Starring the tried-and-tested Kapuso loveteam of Julie Anne San Jose and Elmo Magalona, the film directed by Mac Alejandre suffers from having been in production for more than a year when direk, now with TV5, was still with GMA 7.

A rich boy-poor girl love story, the film has enough interesting support from Alice Dixson, Joel Torre, Cherry Pie Picache, Gina Alajar, Jiro Manio, Ana Feleo, Buboy Garovillo, Lexi Fernandez, Steven Silva and Diva Montelaba of StarStruck and Gloria Romero. However, last we heard, the cast was still dubbing their parts, recording songs and one manager told us his talent had one more shooting day to complete.

Julie Anne started her career in 2005 competing in Popstar Kids for children aged seven to 11. Placing among the Top 5, she was offered a place in the show’s spin-off band Sugarpop with whom she recorded the albums Sugarpop and Sugarpop (Repackaged). She hosted Planet Q, QTV’s child-oriented animal show, and appeared in the Sunday noontime shows S.O.P. and Party Pilipinas. Aside from singing, multi-talented Julie Anne plays the drums, piano, guitar, flute, lyre, keyboard, beat-box, violin and xylophone.

Elmo is one of the eight children of acclaimed Master Rapper Francis “Kiko” Magalona and Pia Arroyo Magalona. His grandparents are actors Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. Among his siblings now in showbiz after Kiko’s death are Maxene, Saab, Frank and Arkin. There is no way any of them could have avoided the call of the klieg lights. Elmo and Julie Anne have made waves as a love team in the rap musical Elmo and Julie Anne: A Wazak Love Story, based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In recording, he collaborated with Ely Buendia in behalf of his dad in the album In Love and War. He has done TV shows; the movie Tween Academy; won Best Teen Performer in the Aliw Awards, Most Promising from Guillermo Mendoza, and several awards as a love team with Julie Anne.

In this contest of young talents from rival networks, who will win out — the male barkada or the love team?  

(E-mail your comments to [email protected].)