‘And the Breadwinner Is…’ REVIEW: A Vice Ganda You've Never Seen Before
‘And the Breadwinner Is…’ REVIEW: A Vice Ganda You've Never Seen Before
Vice Ganda as Bambi Salvador | Taken from Star Cinema
Vice Ganda’s comeback film is anticipated by many people from the moment it was announced. The film project is presented as a new chapter for the comedian as she ventures further into her entertainment career in an unusual direction and to be taken seriously as an artist. This time, she decides to work under the direction of renowned local director Jun Lana. ‘And the Breadwinner Is’ follows the story of Bambi Salvador, a queer OFW in Taiwan working tirelessly for her family back home in the Philippines. She then decides to go back home to the Philippines, expecting to establish a better life for them after years of hard work overseas, but to Bambi’s surprise — everything is the same, if not worse. She then gets involved in an accident, shocking her family as they receive the news of her death — or is she?
The story now revolves around preventing the news from coming out that Bambi is still alive until her family receives the beneficiary money from the insurance company. This film could be classified as a family drama as it centers on and tackles something uniquely relevant to Filipino families — having a breadwinner. As many Filipinos know, a breadwinner is a particular member of the family who mainly provides and caters to the family’s needs and typically is the one raking in most of the finances. But since a lot of Filipinos already know the concept of a breadwinner, the film tries to shed light on why there is such a thing.
Bambi (Vice Ganda) finding out about her family situation after coming back home | Taken from Star Cinema
The film is admirable and has a lot of heart; you can feel it radiating through the film’s message. Despite its blazing start, the flames diminish as the story goes on and may come off as disorienting in its first act. This is evident in the introduction of Eugene Domingo’s character — Baby Salvador, which could have been done better. Also with the lead-up to Bambi finding out the no-progress house situation and several other problems concerning her family in the initial sequence as we get introduced to the cast felt unworthy of emotional investment, probably due to a lukewarm build up.
Vice Ganda's knack for campy, off-the-script comedy has been her signature as she is best known as a stand-up comic before she entered the film industry under the wings of the late Wenn V. Deramas. Her signature slapstick acts remain consistent and carry out the scenes effortlessly. In her performance for And the Breadwinner Is, the comedic rapport and punches are more intentional, but still with Vice Ganda’s spirit and essence in her comedic timing. The humor is still brimming with spontaneity and her quintessential improv energy.
Some of the punchlines can pass over one's head and be an acquired taste; basically, it can come off flat to some audiences, especially if a certain amount of pre-acquired knowledge is needed behind a joke. If I were to scale the film's humor, I would say it’s still a hit even if compared to Vice’s comedy films roster. There are tendencies for her movies to be apt for their duration, but then age like milk as time passes. In other instances, some aspects can translate to being preachy yet admirable, especially in a few of Bambi’s one-on-one moments conveying her love and appreciation for each of her siblings, showing her realizations and growth.
When discussing other parts of the cast, I would like to hand it to Eugene Domingo’s portrayal of Baby. You just feel how she portrays the rollercoaster of emotion in this film down to the T, how it propels everyone around her forward, and how it supports Bambi’s role. Other standouts are Maris Racal’s portrayal of Buneng, the youngest female sibling, and Gladys Reyes’ depiction of Mayet, Bambi’s sister-in-law.
Although it’s not unexplored territory, Maris Racal is undeniably one to watch and never fails to deliver a role portraying a ditzy girl with an outgoing persona. However, the subplot for her romance with Tonton, played by Anthony Jennings, feels unneeded. Gladys Reyes’s acting prowess, being the veteran she is, makes so much for what little airtime she has as the second half of Biboy (Jhong Hilario), Bambi’s younger brother.
Buneng (Maris Racal), Baby (Eugene Domingo), and Biboy (Jhong Hilario) hugging Bambi (Vice Ganda) in an emotional scene | Still Taken from Star Cinema
Another highlight performance would be Kokoy De Santos’ role as Boy, Bambi’s youngest brother, who happens to be gay. His moments with Bambi play such a critical moment and arc for the film as it explores the idea of queer people being the breadwinner of the family. Moments with Joel Torre and Malou De Guzman as Popshie and Momshie, respectively, evoke such vulnerability that complements Bambi perfectly, giving you a background of Bambi’s motivations.
Other members of the cast feel underutilized, some even forgettable at most. Via Antonio’s Paeng, for example, is a role portrayed so minutely that it could be eradicated completely. It felt like a forced addition to depict the typical Filipino family setup where a cousin is living under one’s roof.
Upcoming child actors, such as Argus Aspiras as Puge and Kulot Caponpon as Danda, are a bit underwhelming, but not due to their acting. Given that the film is stretched out for two hours, I was hopeful there could have been a way to give them more impactful moments. Taking into account the Eddie Garcia Law, I’ve seen projects that were planned around successfully despite having child actors able to only work around a much more limited time after the law has taken effect.
There are culminating moments that make the film what it is. The ‘A Thousand Nights of Vice Ganda’ schtick is not just for fan service; it is incorporated well into the storytelling as it is strategically scattered throughout the movie. It is fun to watch Vice Ganda reprise her roles from past films, pulling out laughter from the audience while being tastefully done.
The 14-minute confrontation with a continuous shot, I would say, is the peak of the film’s entirety. High emotions ruminate among the cast as they begin to unpack all their grievances with one another, offering the audience a chance to dissect the complicated dynamics of the Salvador family centered around Bambi. Right after that, the bus stop scene is the perfect gut-punch moment, breaking the confrontation scene that precedes it. I was really dismayed and hoped that the lead-up for Bambi’s reveal of her condition is set up more appropriately, as it might come off as abrupt.
Bambi (Vice Ganda) during a long confrontation with her siblings | Taken from Star Cinema
Regardless of a few hiccups and the usual escapist nature of Star Cinema-produced films, it shows you how Jun Lana’s direction has a lot of soul in his work while remaining intentional. He’s evidently skillful with his craft when it comes to writing and filmmaking. This is in no way to invalidate her Wenn Deramas-directed comedy flicks, but this is one of Vice Ganda’s most significant career highlights as it breaks the box she is placed into as ‘just a comedian’ who’s incapable of doing noteworthy and acclaimed roles. Hopefully, this will open a lot of opportunities in her career, not that she needs it at this point, but it shows people that she is an artist and should be taken seriously.
‘And the Breadwinner Is…’ is currently showing in selected cinemas as part of the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival, which has been extended from January 7 to January 14, 2025.
