Film Review - Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso (Not Once But Twice)

A disappointing treat from Imus Productions
By: Rianne Hill Soriano

Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso (Not Once But Twice)
Starring: Bong Revilla Jr., Ai-Ai delas Alas, Precious Lara Quigaman Eugene Domingo
Directed by: Wenn V. Deramas

‘Kapag Tumibok Ang Puso (Not Once But Twice)’ is one of those movies that might urge the people to walk out of the theater feeling betrayed. The story itself gives nothing worthwhile and creative. It’s like the makers of this disappointing movie just wanted to come up with a money-making endeavor targeting a ‘masa appeal’ as how they see it – developing an overused concept and story without exercising an intellectual and/or creative license for it. Worse, this is one of those movies, whether consciously or not, that compel the ‘masa’ to have a low level of film appreciation. Come on… at this time and age, it wouldn’t hurt if we move on to either more intellectual, or at least, more creative and entertaining enough, Pinoy films. Let’s not waste film rolls by providing the audience with a piece of crap that plays around a story lacking coherence, allows bad cinematography and tolerates discontinuity.

The people behind the making of this movie seem to have too much fun – playing around with it way too much. With such, its value has suffered greatly. The story has no coherence. There is nothing wrong with utilizing an overused concept of a family struggling with the death of a compassionate mother and what comes after that if it brings something new or create a twist from it. But this movie has considerably unjustifiable means and ends. Taking a mainstream route, it doesn’t even play around a rational presentation. I somehow got the point of promoting the value of love and forgiveness as the movie tries to convey. But its lack of consistency and rationality doesn’t really justify these virtues as presented in the story.

The movie has poor lighting design. Most of the time, the key light looks too harsh and artificial. The quality and colors of the lights even makes people more confused – is it a day or night shot? At times, the poor cinematography even contributes to the film’s discontinuity as the lighting doesn’t match the intercuts. The chroma shots look so elementary. ‘Exodus’ is a film from Imus Productions too but you can readily compare the two in terms of special effects. The heaven scenes from this movie looks as if it’s made during the 80’s – with very limited lighting and special effects technology. It’s too obvious with the hair of 2005 Ms. International Precious Lara Quigaman and veteran comedienne Ai-ai delas Alas that the lighting is unable to save the scenes’ quality. Such a scene being situated in heaven is not an excuse to poor lighting and effects. Moreover, the composition of shots is not so noteworthy. A number of canted shots are executed even though they are not making any point – it’s like the makers of the movie just wanted the shots to look that angled without much creative, dramatic or comedic base.

Even the editing is not so remarkable. It’s quite funny to boast of the expert Singaporean, Chinese and Filipino fight choreographers even if they are just intended for the kicks as the ‘Mr. And Mrs. Smith-inspired’ action scenes don’t save its editing and special effects problems. It then becomes as corny as the dance showdown date of Bong Revilla and delas Alas – how pathetic of it to simply allow the audience to yield to unconvincing cuts of Revilla and delas Alas doing a breakdance. Obviously, the viewers are left with no choice except to go along no matter how stupid the scenes are. It is so obvious that the doubles of Revilla and delas Alas are the ones doing the breakdance. Come on! They are a lot skinnier than the actor and actress. The fast cuts can’t hide the truth. Let’s not assume the audience is stupid. In fact, more than the said issue, the corny comedic plots here, the impossible and just-made-for-fun plotpoints don’t work like how the queer turn of events of the usual French art films can. The overall treatment doesn’t work really.

Acting-wise, there is nothing to boast of here. The newbies Quigaman looks so inhibited on screen. So goes with Inah Revilla who looks too conscious with her acting. The role of first-rate comedienne Eugene Domingo is underrated and she just gives what is needed for her character. Revilla and delas Alas look veterans really when it comes to mainstream movies. Overall, the movie is not directed with excellence really. Maybe the movie could have worked a little bit better as a comedy episode for a sitcom.

I can’t deny the fact that its comedy may still work for some people. But the issue here is that the movie seems to treat the audience with low level of film appreciation and comprehension. How can the ‘masa’ soon appreciate more significant and creative stories when they are offered something like this? Should it always be only the A, B and C classes who can understand and appreciate art films, independent films and intellectually-empowering films? There is nothing wrong with being ‘mababaw ang kaligayahan’ when people are given a dose of laughter with such a movie as this. But if that’s the only thing offered to the audience, might as well make an episode of a TV series and watch it for free than paying a hundred bucks without letting your mind getting stimulated even just a bit. Let’s not make the Pinoy audience develop ‘a low IQ when it becomes to watching films.’ We all know that the viewers cater to what is offered to them. Film, TV, radio and print are powerful and they can make things right for the audience.

It is quite an achievement that the Filipino film industry nowadays tries to evolve especially with the boom of the independent films that don’t completely rest under the hands of the mainstream rules. But with the showing of this movie, whatever happened to the improving trend? The technical prowess of ‘Exodus’ did make a difference even though its script was too shallow and cliché. But this one, it promotes itself as a completely frustrating piece.