Gandarrapiddo! THE REVENGER SQUAD
#152
The best moment in Vice Ganda's latest MMFF cashcow happens when the credits already begin rolling.
This isn't just because of the relief that what you experienced for the past 2 hours is finally coming to an end (I promise to be as objective as I can), but also because we're given a scene here where the protagonists' real-life love interests randomly cameo at the end just for the sheer amusement of it. This actually ends up as one of the film's only few entertaining scenes because it has exactly what this entire affair sorely lacks: genuine fun that doesn't feel manufactured.
To put it in simple terms, Gandarrapiddo! (what does that even mean by the way??) The Revenger Squad is just a really, really bad film, and the worst part is that it doesn't really care about how bad it is.
A lot might disagree but this brand of irreverence can actually be done to at least a palatable level, as we've seen in previous Pinoy comedies some of which are even Vice Ganda-led also. This one fails at even the basic requirement of delivering inspired humor, content with being a collection of beats they confidently assumed would click with audiences, all connected together by a narrative that just happens to be there to push things forward.
The problem with this film is not inherent in its premise, but rather in the sheer laziness in how everything is structured and executed, as well as in the lack of understanding of what is actually entertaining and what isn't. The way it handles its superhero elements are just downright shameful and even insulting. One Sailor Moon-inspired transformation sequence was especially cringe-worthy. It doesn't feel ashamed of its mediocre visuals, the screenplay is just plain lousy, and the occasional improvisation can only do so much. Vice Ganda as a character and her trademark humor always comes as a selective taste, but one can't argue that she needs better material than this. It's like they don't even give a damn about trying anymore, and it doesn't sit well with me how okay they are with that.
Things generally just don't seem to make a lot of sense. This is a film where amnesia is managed by repeated blunt trauma to the head, arguments are bookended by Kris Aquino impersonations we've all grown tired of, and repeated slaps are made regarding each other's physical appearances every few minutes or so. It's all slapstick, and there's not really much merit to any of it. It's the same brand of humor we've come to expect from these films, but with the usual wit that could salvage at least a handful of moments in remarkably short supply. The last one got maybe about three to four chuckles from me. This time, it's a lot less.
It does try to insert some things to say about the current state of our country, and the elusiveness of truth in a time when false information has become so prevalent, but it doesn't really amount to much. The emotional beats don't fare so well either. They do somewhat build some drama out of the consequences of actions, but it's really hard to care about these things in their world where cruelty is normalized and empty inanity is ingrained into everyday life.
Overall, Gandarrapiddo! The Revenger Squad is a new low for these shameful studio products. There was a time when these films still had a hint of entertainment in them, but that's all a thing of the past. Now, we're left with something that remains symptomatic of the industry's misguided understanding of mainstream appeal, even lazier and more nonsensical than ever. In the words of an acquaintance who was a former supporter but has now finally grown tired of all this fodder, you're better off staying at home and watching an episode of It's Showtime.
Now more than ever, we need to let them understand that our hard-earned money is worth a lot more than this bullcrap.
1/5
Yes, this is the lowest score I gave to a film.