Itutumba Ka Ng Tatay Ko - Movie Review

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Once upon a time, Filipino action movies were all the rage. Titans like FPJ, Lito Lapid, and Rudy Fernandez were plastered on every hand-painted movie billboard that towered over the streets of the Philippines. Eventually, this genre gave way to the Action-Comedy subgenre, pairing the aforementioned kings of action with 90's comedy icons like Andrew E., Dennis Padilla, and of course Janno Gibbs. Now Gibbs returns to doing double duty as both the action star and comedic lead in a movie and even makes his directorial debut in said film to boot. Does the attempt work, or as the title says, itutumba na lang ba ito?

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Itutumba Ka ng Tatay Ko stars Gibbs as Teteng, a mawkish yet loving single father to Tintin (Xia Vigor), a feisty teenage girl. Teteng refuses to ever engage in any form of aggression or violence due to a traumatic experience at an early age, but all this changes when he receives information that suddenly makes him rethink all of his life choices. Armed with a fresh outlook in life, he decides to become a take-charge guy; however, this choice might end up putting the ones he loves in harm's way.

As was mentioned earlier, Gibbs was prolific in being part of many classic action-comedies in the '80s and '90s. This fact is actually referenced in a meta way as we see his character sleeping under a poster of an FPJ movie that also starred him. It's this dichotomy in his acting DNA that actually makes him the perfect candidate to lead the charge for this production. It bears pointing out that he has already dabbled in leading films such as this, with 1994's Ang Pagbabalik ni Pedro Penduko and 2000's Pedro Penduko Episode II: The Return of the Comeback. Although written and directed by others, Gibbs retains the influence of these films in Itutumba as he peppers the film with fourth-wall breaks and hilarious bits that will surely tickle the funny bone of local audiences.

The script (written by Charrie M. Avendaño and Joma Labayen from a story by Gibbs) plays as a loving homage to all of the glorious action romps of yesteryear, almost like a Scary Movie-esque celebration of what made those films such big hits complete with all the tropes - drunken goons, alluring female "friends", and of course, catchphrase spouting baddies.

However, the film also has a few winks for the hardcore cinephiles, like a hallway action sequence evoking Oldboy that made us squeal in delight. The script also makes a statement about the genre involving toxic masculinity and bullying, once played for laughs but are now taken seriously. As Teteng is initially portrayed as a pacifist, the film doesn't show this as his weakness but rather as a choice that the character draws strength from, although we'd have wanted it if the script had hammered this point home further.

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The supporting cast also came to play, with veterans like Mark Anthony Fernandez and Jeric Raval on hand to lend their action star pedigree to the proceedings. However, it's Vigor as Tintin and Louise delos Reyes as Mylene that act as the beating heart of the film, giving Gibbs' Teteng a rudimentary set of dimensions to a character usually written as one-note. Vigor is most especially game in scenes that involve her and Gibbs as it is their sweet interactions as daughter and father that give the film a much-needed breath of fresh air after a hilarious bit or an exciting action sequence. Delos Reyes ably steps up to the plate portraying a role popularized by many an FPJ or Lito Lapid leading lady, keeping up with the timing and delivery needed to succeed in an action-comedy like this.

We cannot forget to take note of the late Ronaldo Valdez's cameo in this film as Teteng's father, acting as a bittersweet coda to an illustrious career. Here, Gibbs plays with semi-autobiographical emotions in painting a picture of a father and son deciding whether or not to heal their fractured relationship. He also gets to flex his action star muscles for a bit and ends his noteworthy appearance with one of the film's better punchlines.

Itutumba Ka ng Tatay Ko might be a relic from a bygone era, and some of its elements really do show their age. However, thanks to the capable hands of Janno Gibbs the film soars thanks to a hilarious and emotionally affecting script mixed in with some technically impressive action sequences.

Also, if this is the last time we see Ronaldo Valdez on-screen, then it's just fitting that his son provides the final say on what his legacy should be.

Cinegeeks rating : B+

Itutumba ka ng Tatay Ko opens in cinemas nationwide on January 24.