Not only does this movie boast of a powerhouse cast but also of powerhouse producers.
Perennial Metro Manila Film Festival top-grossing actor-producers Vic Sotto and Senator Bong Revilla team up for their entry this year, and the result is expected to be colossal. With Vic's M-Zet and Bong's Imus Productions being joined by OctoArts, APT, and GMA Films, Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote is unstoppable.
In the box-office race, at least.
As expected, the movie, which is a mix of the two lead actors' epic films, is making a killing in the box office.
Sadly, for something backed by five companies, Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote stumbled in the awards arena, taking only visual effects and make-up citations.
(CLICK HERE to view the complete list of winners of the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival)
In any case, the two awards received by this action-fantasy film are highly deserved.
Si Agimat at Si Enteng Kabisote used a number of excellent visual effects to create a world of creatures and monsters, both enchanted and demonic.
It also helped that some scenes were shot in locations so breathtaking locations, they can convince moviegoers that the characters are indeed from a place that's out of this world.
Being a movie about two Filipino pop culture mythologies, however, we cannot help but wonder, is it going to be a Vic Sotto or a Bong Revilla movie?
It is not a secret that Vic is known for comedic fantasy films and Bong leans toward more serious epics.
And after viewing the film, we saw that they tried to merge and incorporate the two different styles as equally as possible—but in the end, it's Enteng Kabisote, or Vic's turf, that took over.
The Enteng Kabisote series of course has already been established through many Metro Manila Film Festivals. So much so that Vic Sotto has become a permanent MMFF fixture.
With MZet's years of experience in the festival, Vic's production company has already perfected its style and voice and has a very good grasp of its target audience.
Like other installments in the Enteng Kabisote series, Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote knows that the December crowd is all about the family. And so the result is something predictable, but reliable.
And like all Enteng Kabisote stories, this one is not at all complicated—just a linear narration, a series of events. It shows a situation or a problem, it presents the solution immediately after—almost like the audience interaction style of Dora the Explorer.
This simple story-telling is anchored in the well-loved Okey ka Fairy Ko mythology, peppered with Eat Bulaga-style jokes and some good old slapstick routines—and the result is a sure hit and another box-office success story.
This "reliability" of the Enteng Kabisote franchise attracts entire families during the MMFF season.
This is manifested by the sheer number of kids who laugh inside the cinema whenever someone's head gets slapped. Parents of these children actually appreciate the entertainment provided by Enteng Kabisote during the long Christmas break. If it's from Enteng, the kids of all ages will love it. No risk there.
Si Agimat at si Enteng Kabisote, even with the presence of amulets and action heroics, does not change the formula.
It still engages the children no matter how many times the villains die and are brought back to life. There's still the thrill of knowing that good will always triumph over evil, even if this is what Ina Magenta has been telling us every December.
Agimat (Bong) has come to the Enteng Kabisote franchise at the right time.
He and his franchise have infused a new story and a fresh angle to the series.
It is delightful to see Bong's and Vic's two worlds collide, and watch the characters from these worlds interact.
However, some of these characters seem to be unnecessary and can be written off, and the story will go on just fine.
The best example is Bratty (Barbie Forteza) who takes up so much screen time without actually contributing much.
Same can be said of even major characters like Aiza (Aiza Seguerra) and Benok (Oyo Sotto), who once were major characters in the Enteng Kabisote storyline.
Newcomer Gwen Zamora gets her break as the new Faye and she gets by with her enchanting looks alone.
And fresh from her career resurgence via her Face to Face talk show on TV5, Amy Perez dons the Ina Magenta garb and becomes the new queen of Engkantasya. Unfortunately, her performance makes us miss the majestic bearing and condescending, diva-ish attitude towards Enteng of the late, great Charito Solis.
Sam Pinto, who plays the love interest of Agimat (Revilla), is stunning on screen, but also needs improvement in the acting department.
Si Agimat at Si Enteng Kabisote is undeniably a fun offering for the whole family. It does not require much from viewers who are a captured audience to begin with. But it's a visual treat for the kids, and a safe bet for parents.
The movie did not win Best Picture—which the MMFF jury handed to Ang Tanging Ina Mo (Last Na To!)—but when it comes to box-office returns, Vic and Bong reign in all kingdoms.
For the family members who didn't mind sitting on the aisle for its SRO screening just to see Enteng and Agimat battle evil, this movie is the runaway winner.
