BAKIT LAHAT NG GWAPO MAY BOYFRIEND? (2016) Review
Directed by Jun Robles Lana
Why do handsome men have boyfriends? This might be an issue for some women as they do not know which is which, who’s gay and who’s straight and it jeopardizes their chances of finding the man of their lives. This is the dilemma of Kylie, played effectively by Anne Curtis. While she has proven herself to be an expert in smelling which is which because of her experience, her best friend and ex-boyfriend Benj (Paolo Ballesteros) who is now gay, tries to test her “gaydar” on his best friend Diego (Dennis Trillo) which he’s been in love for years. But is Diego really gay? Or will Kylie for for Diego as they get to know each other?
The film opens with Kylie introducing herself and her experiences with having boyfriends who turned out to be gay which sets up the mood of the movie being fun and riotous. Anne Curtis plays perfectly the role of Kylie, it’s as if she understood and have experienced herself being the “cover girl” or the girl whom gays courts to hide their true identity. But the real treat of the film is Paolo Ballesteros playing Benj, whenever he’s on screen the story moves along with his perfect comedic timing. This is also where the film is flawed.
Although the film opens with Kylie, the story moves because of Benj and you get to feel lost when it focuses on Kylie and Diego on the second and third part of the film. Yes, Anne Curtis is the main star of the film, and her leading man is Dennis Trillo, but Paolo Ballesteros’ character drives the story, the moment his character flies off the story, you’re unsure of what should happen in the story.
Luckily, Curtis and Trillo has chemistry and both does their characters tremendously. Trillo, while not new to acting a bit soft, perfectly portrays the straight but very vain and not afraid to show his feminine side Diego.
The film is fun, it does play well with the stereotypes, and the story is new but moving in a formula that’s familiar to every audience. This might be Lana’s best mainstream film to date, and we’re sure ready for more.
3 OUT OF 5 STARS
“Bakit Lahat ng Gwapo May Boyfriend” is now showing in Philippine cinemas nationwide from VIVA Films and The IdeaFirst Company. Rated PG by the MTRCB.