Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad

Literally the most see film of 2018's MMFF and a spectacular film to boot. I would never have felt my year be completed without seeing this film in all of it's majestic glory. If you thought the Avengers was great and Justice League was okay, then this film will totally blow away all your expectations. If all of these words don't have you fooled yet you must probably not be a kid as well.

After MMFFs spectacular showing last 2016 with films such as Saving Sally, Die Beautiful, Sunday Beauty Queen and Oro, 2017 treats us with the same caliber of films that previous years always had. To be fair though there are films showing the best in Philippine Cinema like the Shake Rattle and Roll franchise for horror and El Presidente for drama and even one of my personal favorite films Walang Forever for romance. Then there's the other side of the spectrum with countless sequels to the Enteng Kabisote series, whatever trending love teams film they had out and Wapakman, films clearly made to milk the population of its cash at the facade of a decent film but in reality is just a really long advertisement for whatever's paying them. Gandarrapiddo is part of the latter.

Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad, if the poster isn't enough of a dead giveaway is an Avengers parody. But more than that, the film already a parody in itself would be a parody of itself poking fun of its actors, their real life counterparts and in Vice Ganda's case, literally anything he sets his sights on. Definitely having more downs than ups, here's what I thought about it as a whole:

The Bad (Because really though, writing reviews for films like these make me enjoy way more than I should)
- Obviously being made to milk the population of its hard earned cash

- The cringe inducing action sequences that should've been so much more
- The editing was horrendous with sooooooo many questionable cuts (how do you get from point A to B by skipping straight to C)
- The whole premise although played out for far too long felt so cliche that the film was so predictable in the end
- The forced use of trendy words literally every situation that you could think of (Gigil si acoe on repeat indefinitely)
- Lackluster effects considering it's a superhero movie
- Vice Ganda although funny being a one trick pony and literally just being funny
- Daniel Padilla's awkward "heroics"
- Pia's "acting" (but to be fair, it's alright considering it's her first film)
- Questionable wounds even if they didn't even participate in the fight
- The subtitles having the wrong grammar in most scenes
- The Sailor Moon parody being used just as a segue for a dance number
- Child actors which felt too forced
- Last but not the least, the inclusion of a superhero team prior to the films events

I get it the films a superhero team up movie but why include these guys too?

Okay okay, before I continue let me get this straight. Vice Ganda is Sailor Moon, Daniel Padilla is the Flash and Pia Wurtzbach is a Queen. Along with the main characters we get these B-tier heroes Higopa (bottom left), Barna (Barney Darna in the bottom middle shot), Pospora and Flawlessa (in the bottom right consecutively). They're superheroes with questionable power that look more like mascots than they do heroes. Their interactions are funny though for sure but outside of their non-hero showings in the film, their purpose in the film felt a little lackluster. Remember how you felt when you watched Suicide Squad and didn't care when one of them died? You won't have any connection with these B-tier heroes as well. Their powers are definitely a parody of other heroes with 2 of these heroes being nonsensical but it's a kids movie so as long as it's funny enough it'll be good enough right? Flawlessa summons pimples. Flawlessa literally summons giant pimples to attack. When you see it on screen its funny but when you think about it hard enough, you'd be a bit grossed out too.

It's not all gloom and doom though when it comes to the film since there are some redeeming traits to it as well.
- When it doesn't try to be a superhero movie it's great
- The first half after the opening superhero theatrics was reminiscent of old school Tom and Jerry cartoons and that's great
- References a plenty in both western and even Filipino comics (I'm honestly impressed that they were able to fit in so many movie parodies in this parody movie. Even Lastikman was there)
- When big stars make fun of themselves in films and enjoy it, you'd enjoy it too (Daniel Padilla and Vice Ganda parodied recent KathNiel films and it was glorious)
- Including Showtime winners in the film which actually added to the humor
- Cameos towards the end which was more of a bonus for followers of the actors love teams
- No ads in between <3
- Definitely a kids movie so if your kids wanna watch it, the films a safe bet for something they'd enjoy and something you'd laugh at

Overall, the revengers get a 2/10. It's not a superhero. It's a parody of a superhero. A bad parody. I was gonna rate it a 1 but Merry Christmas and all right?

Want some good films to watch with your family instead for the holiday season?
For a Vice Ganda film I highly suggest Praybeyt Benjamin. Vice Ganda's first film actually felt like he made an effort to begin with

For a family friendly superhero film, watch the Avengers especially since infinity war is coming out or if you manage to find a way, rewatch Thor Ragnarok or Guardians of the Galaxy again. Guardians is a great film to use as reference for superhero team ups because it actually explores each character giving you an emotional investment with each protagonist.

Happy New Years too btw