MOVIE REVIEW: Easter Sunday

 Filipino-American standup comedian Jo Koy is given his biggest break in Hollywood with Easter Sunday. He plays Joe Valencia, a variation of himself, a standup based in Los Angeles waiting for his agent Nick (played by the movie's director Jay Chandrasekhai (Super Troopers))'s call for a sitcom. He has a son Junior (Brandon Wardell) from a previous relationship and despise him for not having enough time for him.

Joe got a call from his mother (Lydia Gaston) and asked him to go to his hometown up north in Daly City aka Little Manila to celebrate Easter Sunday with his family. He brings along his son and drives up north. Hilarity ensues.

Jo Koy brings in the usual stereotype Pinoys from the stage to the screen. Among them are the fighting sisters (Joe's mom and her sister, his Tita (Auntie) Theresa played with good comic timing by Tia Carrere. A mischievous cousin Eugene (Eugene Cordero) and his sister nurse (Elena Juatco). Tony nominee Eva Noblezada is also in the film in a cute role. Tiffany Haddish is also in the film as Joe's past fling.

Kudos to him for showing in the film on how Hollywood treats ethnic groups. Easter Sunday doesn't make fun of the Filipino accent, it celebrates it. Jo Koy will probably push the boundaries on most conservative Filipinos about Roman Catholicism in the movie. On the record, I wasn't offended at all. 

As one who considers the San Francisco Bay Area as my home in the US, the movie is Jo Koy's love letter to it. Nothing but pure joy seeing the popular landmarks integrated in the film.

This is the first Hollywood  big studio film about Filipinos. On the record, Christmas is still the most beloved holiday for Filipinos but if Jo Koy's is Easters then it's all good.

MOVIE REVIEW: Minions: The Rise of Gru

Minions: The Rise of Gru is another entry in the Despicable Me films that has now become a cash cow for Universal Pictures. Like the Ice Age series from 20th Century Fox, you can't distinguish one film from another anymore. Fortunately, there are saving graces from this new entry.

First, it's a big improvement from the first Minions film. Steve Carell's Gru was left out in the first movie and it felt not right at all. The Minions and Gru have excellent chemistry and the lovable characters simply can't stand alone on their own. 

Second, the setting. The Rise of Gru brings us back in the 70s when Gru was embracing his bad side. He's a big fan of the Vicious 6, a group of villains. He hatches a plan to join them and this is where the fun part begins.

Third, the voice actors. Aside from Carell, Taraji P. Henson is a welcome treat in the film. She's perfection as the villainess Bell Bottom. It was awesome of Illumination Production to hire 80's icons Lucy Lawless, Jean Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren to voice Bell Bottom's henchmen. Too bad, they were  underutilized in the film. 

Fourth, the music.

Overall, despite it's shortcomings, Minions: The Rise of Gru is an entertaining film with some funny moments. 

MOVIE REVIEW: Top Gun: Maverick

 36 years is worth the wait for the sequel of one of the most defining summer movies of the 80s. It made Tom Cruise a global household name. I couldn't believe that the sequel flawlessly connects itself from the original and ends up being one of the most entertaining films that I saw on the big screen after a long time.

In the past years, cinemas were filled with superhero comic book movies that eventually saturated and most of them had the same look and feel. Top Gun: Maverick brought us the years before Marvel in which people were actually entertained with storylines about regular people with extraordinary skills and talent. Maverick delivers the goods anchored by Tom Cruise's charismatic performance in one of his most iconic roles.

Refused to get promoted because he loves what he's doing best: flying, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell has to face the reality of aging as he's assigned to train new pilots of Top Gun. They're set out on a dangerous mission to prevent global disaster in an unnamed country.

I won't spoil the rest but the film is highly unpredictable and edge of your seat action and suspense is well served.

Miles Teller, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Connelly and provide excellent support and their characters are excellently integrated into the film. Maverick's BFF Iceman (Val Kilmer once again) gives the film it's heart.

Too Gun: Maverick is best seen on the big screen. If you liked the first one, this is better!!