The movie, Praybet Benjamin, starring the sensational comedian Vica Ganda has earned rave reviews and an unkabogable gross earnings of $7,406,760 (around Php 311 Million) on it's third week according to boxofficemojo which is a record-breaking feat in the Philippines.
The movie is another collaboration from Star Cinema and Viva Films starring Vice Ganda as Benjie Santos and Derek Ramsay as Brandon Estolas and a slew of supporting character the most notable of which are Nikki Valdez, Vandolph, Kean Cipriano, Jimmy Santos and more under the direction of Wenn V. Deramas.
As you would expect with a Vice Ganda movie, it's main objective is to get the audience to laugh like crazy. Sure enough, it was what the movie was all about. It makes you feel good because of the increased dopamine and endorphin levels in your body when you laugh thus reducing stress. And if you intend to only laugh, relax and enjoy then the movie is for you. You earned your money's worth.
They say that entertainment is supposed to be that especially if it's a comedy you'd rather not expect more than to laugh. After all, a comedy film is designed mainly to be humorous and elicit laughter from the audience. In this respect, the movie lived up to that.
But when it comes to the story line, it was average and basically a rip off of Disney's Mulan. It was as predictable as the sunset happening at the end of the day. There was nothing new. It is a typical Filipino comedy. Predictable, cheesy and corny, a little too much with the exaggeration and shallow.
I'm not always a fan of Vice Ganda's comedic style where he makes jokes at the expense of another person. Sometimes, it can be witty and genuinely funny but there are instances too that his jokes are just downright degrading. The movie was of course loaded with Vice Ganda's punchlines. I have to admit, I did laugh. But not during the entire film as some of the viewers have claimed.
I was looking for some depth. I believe that a comedy movie could be both hilarious and meaningful. Yes, there were some moral lessons like acceptance, family values and good camaraderie but other movies have done the same thing too.
Nonetheless, it is undeniable that the movie was a huge success when it comes to blockbuster earnings. Not all comedy could pull off such numbers in a span of three weeks. The movie was effective in drawing the mainstream audience. But for me, it was good but not good enough. I was expecting more from the story and from the highly sensationalized caliber of Vice Ganda's comedic timing. Or may be I'm just to serious or maybe I'm just being too critical or maybe the movie was just over hyped. I give it a 6 out 10.
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