Gagamboy Film Review

If you have had enough of superhero films that cost more than the GDP of some nations filled with endless CGI special effects but no heart, this film from the Philippines might be what you need. Made on a tiny budget and looking like it, it is sweet, comic and intentionally cheesy. Like every country, the Philippines has their share of superheroes from the female Darna to Lastikman to the transexual ZsaZsa. And of course, Gagamboy which we showed at the NYAFF in 2005. Can't recall what we were thinking or what the audience thought because this is really cheap looking and sillier than hundred pies in the face. But it is never meant to be serious for a moment and the goofy comedy is catching. Up to a point. At 100-minutes it does drag at times and for a superhero film there is a lot of down time from being a superhero.

Junie (Vhong Navarro) is a poor ice cream vendor with a heart so soft that he ends up giving children free cones. Dodoy (Jay Manalo) is his rival in the ice cream vendor business as well as for the heart of the busty Liana (Audrey Miles). They are both always poor and now unemployed after screwing up once again. They live in a very poor section of town with all the homes clustered together and everyone knows each other - and every guy is after Liana. Then Junie who hates cockroaches swallows a radioactive spider and guess what? He becomes Spider Boy or Gagamboy. He can crawl up walls, jump long distances, beat up bullies and create gluey blue stuff in his hands. Surprised Marvel didn't sue. Now he figures he can get Liana. But first he needs a superhero costume and turns to the transvestite local fashion designer (Rene Facunla) who has just made her latest creation - a barbed wire dress.

Things are looking good for Gagamboy - he is the hero of the neighborhood kids - though every time he fights, he has to fix everything that was broken. These are piss poor villains - even the flying vampire lady is easily sheared - but then Cockroachman shows up. Remember Dodoy? He ate a radioactive cockroach that was in his sandwich and now transforms into a huge cockroach with wings. He worries that he is ugly. His minions tell him that he is. And Junie is terrified of cockroaches. The battle is on. Silly stuff but good natured and cute. No thrills but a few laughs. Directed by Erik Matti. The video I saw had terrible quality but had subs. And I just noticed that the one on YouTube is much better quality. Damn, I wish I had watched that one.