Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After (Ungasis and Escaleras Adventure)

Ooh, Carleen Aguilar...

Nostalgia aside, Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After is a disappointment. Around halfway through the film, I wished I went to see Desperadas 2 instead.

Ooh, Carleen Aguilar...

So, my only problem with the film: Indiana Jones? Please. I watched this film thinking it was going to be a nostalgic romp; instead, it turned into a Tomb Raider-wannabe archaeological comedy. The only reunion that ever took place onscreen didn't take more than five minutes. Yes, when they said "reunion," they meant it literally---the whole Iskul Bukol gang was there, except for Mang Temi (+).

It's been a while since I've seen the Triumvirate of Philippine Comedy on the big screen, and I must say that they haven't lost their touch. Especially Joey, who is obnoxious as ever. And all those years in the senate halls did nothing to dull Tito Sotto's humor, but his brother Vic's fixation with always playing the hero seems a bit problematic to me. The movie turned out to be all Vic's, when the limelight was supposed to be distributed equally among the three.

The best performances actually come from the supporting cast. Ryan Agoncillo plays a mute Cambodian---yes, you heard it right---revealing his potential to become a good character actor. Jimmy Santos's "Carabao English" is always funny, no question. Agoncillo and Jimmy, together with Benjie Paras and his outrageous wig, provided the brunt of the film's non-TVJ humor.

And like all Filipino films, there will always be beautiful women. However, I would just like to point out that Bianca King doesn't look too hot in glasses (is it just me or is it the shape of the frame?) and that Carleen Aguilar's role can be dispensed with altogether.

Ooh, Carleen Aguilar...


Rating: Five out of ten.