“Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap” — Movie Review
★★★½ of 5
Three inept thieves are striving to make a name and be considered the best robbers in their area. The only problem? They really suck at their ‘job’, which is exacerbated by the fact that the living legend of thievery in their area is the group leader’s father.
Two years after its supposed wide release, “Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap” — writer-director Marius Talampas’s crime-comedy film — has found a home on Netflix.
This is a movie that — despite its serious social issues — doesn’t take itself too seriously…
…and got banned two years ago by the MTRCB — with their laughable sense of judgment — who adamantly took themselves too seriously.
In “Holdap,” each of the cast brings their A game with their comedy, headlined by Pepe Herrera (whose adorable clumsiness and foibles at various points in the film remind this writer of the late Tado Jimenez), Jerald Napoles, and Jelson Bay. Finally, Paolo Contis as the newest member of the group of thieves is also perfect casting, given the actor’s underrated yet natural comedic timing when working with great material.
However, none of the aforementioned performances could match Pen Medina’s craft, whose career has been underscored by serious films that gravitate toward moral ambiguity. As Ka Paeng, the legendary (and now-retired) thief of Barangay Husay who also happens to be Eman’s father, Medina infuses his character with a host of colorful details which include exasperation, calm assurance, disappointment, and — finally— pride. More importantly, Medina depicts Ka Paeng not as a dangerous retired criminal willing to mow down anything and anyone standing in his way; but instead as someone who had to resort to theft and petty crimes because his situation called for it.
And while presented as a comedy, this is where I believe “Holdap” shines the brightest. Talampas’s brand of offbeat humor is evident in his screenplay and direction, giving the audiences an easy access to the everyday lives of these characters. Indeed, while the film zeroes in on Eman, Toto, Carlo, and Nicoy earning their respective stripes, the movie doesn’t lose sight of the ramifications (or perceived lack thereof) of their ill-advised actions.
A friend told me that it was as if Talampas himself grew up in the same environment depicted onscreen — full of individuals scraping by each day to survive their dire straits.
And I agree: Even in the most lighthearted moments bordering on camp and parody, Talampas knew how to juggle the balls he himself threw airborne, even if the execution wasn’t always on point. From the minutiae of the characters’ lives to the ‘hyperlink cinema’ effect due to THAT one multimillion-peso artifact; “Holdap” relishes in its own ridiculousness, giggling as it spews dialogue full of double entendre in the middle of tense moments.
And oddly enough, that same self-awareness is ultimately the most endearing aspect of the whole film. Its characters, their naivete, and their never-ending bad luck all invite us to laugh not only at them, but also with them.
When the dust settles, “Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap” is a potent attempt to frame social commentary through satire and borderline-slapstick comedy. It doesn’t always succeed in its attempt for a full-course cake that viewers can enjoy. But when it does, oh boy: Its sincerity and sweetness are more than enough to elevate the half-baked results.
You’ll never listen to LA Lopez the same way again.
Watch the trailer for “Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap” below.
Watch “Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap” on Netflix today.
