La Visa Loca. Para sa mga nalolokang mag-Amerika. Actually, para sa bawat Pilipinong nangangarap umalis ng Pilipinas. It’s really refreshing to see a mainstream Filipino movie like this which tackles a very relevant contemporary issue without coming off as ma-drama or masyadong seryoso or too preachy. What I really like about it is how it managed to deliver its rather patriotic message without losing its entertaining and comic mood. Aliw talaga. Sana ma-appreciate ‘to ng mga manonood beyond the comedy.

I really liked the idea of having the conscience pasyon chorus suddenly entering some scenes singing pasyon-like songs about Jess Huson’s (Robin Padilla) life and his failures in trying to obtain a US visa. The lyrics were profound and yet they don’t kill the comic mood at all. They actually complement each other really well. Actually I found the idea of having the entire movie set during the lenten season (with Jess’ trials in life being patterned after Jesus’) brilliant. Again, without being too serious at all.

…Isasangla ang lahat-lahat
Kapiranggot na yaman niya
Kahit na anong diskarte ay kanyang papasukin
At handang talikuran ang lahat para lang sa pera
Kikitain mo ba sa Pilipinas
Ang p’wede mong i-tae sa labas?…

…Itataya mo ba ang buhay mo
Nang ganyan-ganyan na lang
Para lang manirahan ka sa bayan ng dayuhan?
Sulit ba ang hirap, sulit ba ang sakit,
‘Di mo man lang ba itatanong kung bakit?
Bakit nga ba? Bakit nga ba?

…Ang iyo bang pagluwas
Ay ang paraan ng ‘yong pag-iwas
Sa dagok ng buhay
Ang sagot mo ay pagtakas…

One of my favorite scenes was the one right after Jess “fainted” from his “last sacrifice”, probably out of frustration he had a dream wherein he was the one denying foreigners applying for Filipino visas. It was a glorious reversal of roles feeling. But then, it was just a dream.

My rating: 8.5/10.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 26th, 2005 at 1:32 pm and is filed under Movie Babble . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.