Jackstone 5 feels like a warm hug and a raucous night out with old friends.
This new comedy movie from Joel Lamangan, about five senior gay friends, is heartfelt but also laugh-out-loud funny.
The story centers on a gay squad who reunite after decades apart. They then decide to take a lively road trip together to rekindle past relationships and ignite new connections.
the characters
The five main actors anchor the whole movie. The group includes Direk Joel himself as Naldo, the group’s "paminta," or the straight-acting member. He spent his life married, and now that his wife has died, he feels ready to finally come out.
Then there is Arnell Ignacio, who plays Bruno, the successful, rich businessman who handles a lot of the group's comedy. But beneath the jokes, he is hiding a serious, devastating secret from the past.
Gardo Versoza plays Pido, the resident flirt. He is the ex of Remy and has a reputation for being a hustler who allegedly fleeces partners for cash.
Jim Pebanco’s Remy is the selfless one. He worked hard as an OFW but gave up his savings to help people over the years, leaving him struggling financially. Because of their complicated history, Remy wants nothing to do with taking Pido back.
Finally, Eric Quizon is Felix, the barkada’s resident beauty. He built a great career as a nurse in Doha, Qatar, while carrying a tragic background tied to his family back in the Philippines.
the journey
Jackstone 5 starts with an impromptu pageant at an airport, where they begin their journey to a vacation in Pagsanjan.
The stops along the way are key, as they visit old hometowns and drop in on relatives.
This structure works perfectly, turning the trip into a vehicle for reflection and recollection.
The movie really gets into the reality of what it was like growing up gay and feeling isolated during those earlier years.
But the important, heartwarming message here is that they found each other, creating a chosen, tight-knit family that ensures none of them feels alone anymore.
parts to improve
Despite the positives, the movie still has a lot to improve, particularly in its storytelling.
For instance, it needed more care in how it set up two key emotional beats.
First, the movie spends a good amount of time talking about Remy and Pido’s contentious past and the exact reasons why they broke up.
But those moments are never actually shown to the viewer, even though the film uses other flashbacks effectively.
Because of that missing setup, their big, tearjerking reconciliation scene doesn't connect as strongly as it should have.
The second is with Naldo’s coming-out arc.
While his fear is understandable, we needed more scenes showing him actively struggling and consciously trying to act straight around his family.
That visual struggle would have provided the necessary weight to really hit home when his coming-out moment finally happens in the film.
why you should watch it
But all in all, Jackstone 5 gets a lot right in terms of humor, friendship, and emotional resonance.
If a viewer wants genuine laughs and a story about a chosen family that feels completely real, this movie is highly recommended.
Jackstone 5, produced by Apex Creative Production Inc., premieres on December 3 in cinemas nationwide.