Not another gay film (In My Life)

It's the comedy, and not the tragedy that takes me.

I was staring at a blank screen on my desk and left my room slightly open. When I was about to swing it close, I overheard ABS-CBN air the trailer of In My Life.

The movie, which is top-billed by no less than Vilma Santos, is being touted as her comeback obra maestra adding to her long list of dramas that includes Sister Stella L and Bata, Bata, Pano ka Ginawa?

For a movie branded as a tearjerker, the irony for me is, I didn't come out to watch the trailer because of the howling and sobbing; I came out because of Santos' perfectly-timed, crazy mother punchlines. Thumbs up to the writer for the laughing points.

The film shows the struggles of three characters to cope with living with each other in a less than familiar place: the mother, played by Santos; Noel, played by John Lloyd Cruz and Mark, played by Santos' real-life son, Luis Manzano.

There has been a lot of hullabaloo about this movie as it's the first time matinee actors Cruz and Manzano will play gay roles, but I don't think that extra color is going to be that crucial element in the film like what's being portrayed in local media.

In My Life is not about forbidden gay love; hence, if you're expecting a "Brokeback Mountain" sort of acting in the mold of the late Australian actor Heath Legder and American looker Jack Gyllenhaal, you will be frustrated. For one, the material is not as intense and graphic as Ang Lee's masterpiece.

Not to take anything away from Oliva Lamasang's work though, especially that I still haven't seen it, I think the films are two different apples, so to say, and pitting them against each other would be inappropriate.

Bottom line, it still interests me to see how Cruz and Manzano attacked their gay roles effectively (although both characters are not flamboyant gays, it is still a stretch for both of them). Slow clap for the, especially Cruz, for taking this risk (mus love risk takers)!

In My Life is coming to local theaters on September 16. Let us? I'll bring the popcorn; you bring the soda? It's a date!

©Grace Ramos