Dobol Trobol

This is not a movie review. Well, not in its entirety. Today is a holiday so Mum asked me to spend the day with her. Sure. Only I had already planned this movie date with Dad today. Here’s an idea: why not make it a family day, right? Only I can find amusement in my parents’ separation. Anyway, so both parties agreed and I initially planned to take them to TriNoma so it’d be something new for all of us. Yeah, we ended up in Glorietta as usual.

Like I said in my tribute blog for Dad, he likes Tagalog stuff and no contest really on what we’re going to watch--the “epic” movie of Dolphy and Vic Sotto, the two most prominent comedy giants of our country’s entertainment industry: “Dobol Trobol: Get Redi 2 Rambol.” Yeah, it sounds cheesy and it is…but you cannot take away the fact that it stars two institutions that made names for themselves by making everyone laugh. I liked it, really.

The story revolves around rich businessman Mac (Dolphy) who left his wife because she’s a bitch and decided to work at his best friend’s resort as an all-around guy. Arthur (Vic Sotto) really just came out as this jobless nice guy who saved Mac’s BFF from holdapers, and in return, the guy gives him a job in his resort as Mac’s assistant. The two quickly hated each other to the point of sabotaging and playing tricks on each other--why? They never did say. I guess Dolphy didn’t want to share the comedy throne to his so-called protégé. In comes the beautiful and future ex-girlfriend of mine, Boni (short for Bonifacia played by Riza Santos), unica hija of Mac who wants nothing more but to see her parents get back together and hopes that things return to the way they were before, oh, and she thinks Arthur is “kinda cute.” Okay. Slapstick, toilet-humor, some use of CGI--not really the finer points but Dolphy’s quick use of witty adlibs and seeing Vic Sotto being slapped a couple of times made it work for me. It’s not that “epic” and “grand” comedy movie of the century as it was supposed to be…but hey, I grew up laughing with these fellows. I respect their efforts nevertheless.

Wrong choice of movie when you’re out with your Mum and Dad who are not together. Key line: “unica hija who wants nothing more but to see her parents get back together…” Did the writers of this movie knew my family’s situation? Cruel bastards! While I may not wish for that to happen and certainly laughs at the concept, watching it with both of them sure was awkward. The idea certainly played tricks on our minds. “Is he thinking the same thing?” “Was it really my fault?” “Am I really worthless?” Dramatization. Sheesh. I’ve already made my peace that I have a mom and a dad, but not parents. Both of them looking out and wanting what’s best for me are more than enough anyways. Should’ve just waited for “For The First Time.” Hahaha! Only I can find amusement in my parents’ separation.

Now, if only I could take Riza Santos to introduce to them and ask for their blessing…(--,)