This is a film worth cheering for as it’s a sign that big name studios are willing to highlight different cultures and continue with original films.
For anyone with Filipino heritage this film was a source of anticipation when it was first announced. While the marketing was less than ideal, watching the film was worth the wait for more than the representation that it showed.
Beautiful Shots And A Beautiful Friendship
Right off the bat, the film hooked me not just with it’s visuals but with how much nostalgia it brought with the amount of scenes that pointed to it being a love letter to Filipino culture. It was not just the setting but the way the characters behaved, they characteristics they showed growing up and the highlight for me in terms of representation was Raissa’s going away party. From the dancing, the karaoke and even how the relatives acted, it was just fun to watch.
The same applies to the music for the time period they were highlighting but also in general for the movie. Of course there’s plenty to spotlight regarding the mythological aspects of the film. It was fascinating how the artists made renditions of different mythological figures to make them creative but recognisable.
More than the representation and the creativeness of the designs, the way Jo and Raissa’s friendship was presented was the star of the film. Sure, they have the familiar dynamic of introvert and extrovert but there is a distinctiveness to their dynamic that makes them far from stereotypical. The way they lifted each other and how much they impact one another really pays off the way their friendship was shown to develop in the beginning of the film.
There’s just so much to talk about when it comes to the film.
DreamWorks Continues With Its Consistent Chaos
The problem is, as much as there is good things to talk about in the film, its not picture. Similar to many other DreamWorks films, there are quite a few scenes where there is so much happening so fast that I wanted to rewind more than once to catch what I missed. Visually, it was great, but plot wise I felt like it could have been paced better. Speaking on the plot, overall, it was great and I liked how certain things tied together but I wasn’t too sure on how the side characters were utilized.
Were they great in showcasing the different creatures that existed in Filipino myth? Sure, but it felt like many of the characters were shown briefly, given a few lines and then didn’t pay off in the latter end of the film. It just felt like the middle of the film could have been utilized better for a the overarching plot. Additionally, it took some attention away from the development of the main cast to me, hence why I think the side characters could have been done better.
What’s The Verdict?
The overall film was a fun adventure to have and the plot twists it slipped in were amazing in how the girls ended up on the island and what happened to them. There were also great emotional and bonding moments that made the film shine with its message about memories and friendship.
Without spoiling anything, there was so much to relate to in the films in terms of finding yourself and the connections you make along the way. Even if you don’t relate to the cultural aspects of the film it is worth watching it for the adventure and emotional pay off it gives. Overall, this was a 9/10.
