Imagine a world where the Internet just stops. No WiFi, no data. No more YouTube, and definitely no more endless scrolling on TikTok.
That is the premise of Rekonek, and honestly, it is a pretty fun ride.
It has been six years since we last saw director Jade Castro, and this movie feels like a fitting comeback.
If you liked the craziness of Zombadings 1 back in 2011, or the captivating story of LSS (Last Song Syndrome) in 2019, you will see he mixes both here.
Direk Jade shows that he can expertly juggle a large ensemble without letting the story become cluttered.
REKONEK: SYNOPSIS AND CAST
Rekonek follows a bunch of different people forced to deal with the real world instead of their newly-dead screens.
Gerald Anderson plays Wes, who has fallen out of love with his wife Kate, played by Charlie Dizon. He plans to leave her, but reconsiders after the Internet goes dark.
Then there is Bela Padilla as Trisha, an OFW stranded in Thailand.
She ends up helping Gigi, played by Andrea Brillantes. She is also an OFW trying to return to the Philippines for Christmas.
All the planes are grounded, so they have to find another way to return home.
Back in Manila, Carmina Villarroel plays Bridget, a mom obsessed with her family’s online channel.
Her daughter Eve, played by Cassy Legaspi, feels trapped and just wants to leave.
Gloria Diaz is also in the mix as Cory, a cranky old lady who hates technology anyway, so she is having a great time. She wonders if she can see her estranged daughters during the holiday season.
Then you have Alexa Miro as Paula, a scammer who takes the Internet crash as a sign from the universe to make amends with her victims.
What works well in Rekonek is the balance between all the characters.
Everyone gets a moment to shine.
Even the supporting characters are memorable.
There’s Donna Cariaga as Peks, Cory’s caretaker, whose quick one-liners are consistently hilarious.
There’s also a surprising depth to the conversations between IT specialists Bennie and Markus, as portrayed by Raf Pineda and Dom Corilla.
Rekonek isn’t perfect, though.
The storyline involving Kelvin Miranda as Onyx, who gets jailed after being accused of a crime, feels like a weak link.
It just doesn't hit as hard as the others.
Also, while the movie is entertaining, it makes you wonder if they played it too safe.
Losing the Internet today would probably be far more catastrophic and frightening than what is depicted in the film.
THE VERDICT
In the end, Rekonek is a feel-good movie filled with characters who are genuinely fun to spend time with.
While it may not offer the most realistic portrayal of a tech blackout, its heartwarming tone is exactly what makes it work perfectly as a holiday release.
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