American Adobo

Before I'd go on with anything I have to say, I would like to comment on the title of the movie. There could've been a better one used instead of being it called "American Adobo." That's the worst thing to have refer it as while the "American Pie" series were so immensely huge and popular during the course of the time. A catchy title (minus the "American" to start off on the title) could've been such an improvement. So when one hears of "American Adobo", he or she would say, "That's a copycat of American Pie." The title should've been called: "Life Like A Good Tasting Lumpia" or "Appetizer, Main Course,& Dessert." Regarding the storyline itself, it seems to stick itself well on the individuals living their own ways of the filipino-american life in America. There are the joys and the pains. Here's an insight to the characters and what they are facing:(1)Tere (Cherry Ann Picache)is a 40 something year old accountant yearning for love, feeling insecure at times when she is trying hard to find that. (2) Mike (Christopher DeLeon):is another 40 year old, but is a news editor who seems to have problems coping with his wife and his daughter (as his son out of the three, respects him). (3) Gerry (Ricky Davao)is a homosexual who is facing a struggle to tell his mom the truth about himself and the love of his life - a man named Chris. (4) Marissa (Dina Bonnevie)is the loquacious socialite who would talk about anyone and anything, but is very insecure when it comes to her boyfriend falling in love with other women. (5) And lastly, is Raul (Paolo Montalban) -- the total filipino-american "pimp daddy and player" who somehow finds a way to score big with beautiful, gorgeous women but has no true feelings for them. Interesting aren't they? Each one will face the sudden changes, struggles, and pains affecting their lives during the course of one year in New York. The characters are all unique and provides depth on each situation at hand. Though they face the uncertainties, there's always the joy that follows them, especially when they go eat together and reflect deeply allowing themselves to be courageous and speak out on their dilemmas. I can't speak furthermore on the movie itself so rent/purchase the video today! It's really worth it. Add the food with the movie and it's a fair blend altogether. There's so much to learn from this movie in all different perspectives and point of views. Some can call this 'O.A.' (filipinos would say 'OVER ACTING'), not real, or weak. It's just a movie, folks. If you wanna watch it, then go for it. If you hate it, then don't watch it. But it'll be one of many that will soon be as iconic (along with another fil-am movie "The Debut") in the near future for it's filipino-american themes. American Adobo provides a fair mix of comedy and drama all in itself thanks in largely to the characters and the filipino food served right in front of them. It makes you want to have dinner with them, too. I'm sure you all will agree.

This movie centers on a group of Philippine-Americans who meet for dinner (adobo-style cooking). Each in the group is having relationship problems and the film follows them as they each come to a turning point in their love lives.

I have reviewed something like a bazillion movies on IMDb and I noticed a long time ago that I tend to rate films a little harsher than average. Because of this, I tend to get much more than my fair share of "not helpful" votes. Despite this, I continue being a somewhat harsh critic since I don't review films to make friends. However, this film is a rare case where all the reviews are far harsher and the overall rating far lower than I'd give the film. It makes me start to wonder if I was wrong in liking this film....well, no it doesn't.

Now I could understand someone not liking this movie for a few reasons. First, this movie starts off very slowly and it's hard to like it during the first half hour or so. Heck, I considered turning it off--mostly because so many of the characters are unlikable and this is a SERIOUS problem for this style of film. Second, there is an awful lot of nudity, very strong language and adult content--again, some of this (particularly the language) seemed inappropriate for this type of movie.

When I say "this type of movie", I mean an ethnic slice of life film--much like EAT, DRINK, MAN, WOMAN or DOUBLE HAPPINESS or BOLLYWOOD/Hollywood. The sort of movies that may make excellent date films or family films. However, I really couldn't see showing this to my kids even though they are teens--it's just got too many boobs and the dreaded F-word by the scores.

Now if you can look past the harshness of the film, it does get a lot better and fortunately some of the less likable characters do improve as the film continues. However, I do agree with one of the reviews that felt a couple of the better subplots alone might have made a better film. The story of the spinster and the gay man were very compelling and touching. The rest, unfortunately, are harder to enjoy since the characters are pretty selfish.

However, I am a sucker for films like this because they emphasize story and people. Now I can't accurately know what the Filipino experience is like--so how close they actually got to realistic characters is a bit of a mystery to me. But I liked the writing and story and for the life of me I cannot understand why it's rated THAT low. Oh well, to each his or her own.

American Adobo is a serviceable attempt at creating an insightful food- themed film in the tradition of Eat Drink Man Woman and other successful Asian food movies.

The movie is a comedy, but no Filipino flick is complete without anyone shedding a tear or going hysterical. So expect hefty servings of good old Pinoy-style melodrama.

Overall, American Adobo is not without its flaws. But it definitely has a lot of heart.

Read more here: https://manilafoodcrawl.com/2017/01/19/pinoy-food- movie-of-the-week-american-adobo-2001/

As a Filipino American filmmaker, I was excited to sit and watch a film about Filipinos. What I got was. a film about Filipinos from filmmakers who seem to think that 'we' are not intelligent human beings.

Who was this film made for? Americans? Filipinos? Everyone? I'm not saying the characters were non-intelligent, but the way the story was told seemed like it was told to those who wouldn't get it.

Subtext? Where was it?

If this was a film made for American's then I'm embarrassed at the representation. Not the representation as far as character and story, but the representation as far as Filipino filmmakers and their work.

If this was a film made for Filipinos, then I'd have to ask. are we this dumb that you have to over explain things?

As user, `mhark villaruz' states, `the film tends to over explain things'. That was a huge complaint of mine which I posed to another Filipino director. He argued that maybe that is how Filipinos really are. They wear their emotion on their sleeve and nothing is left to subtext.

Okay, I can buy that, but that is not what filmmaking and solid story telling is all about. Is it? My argument was that the non-subtextual style of characters was an insult to us as intellectual viewers. Again, why over explain things?

The performers could only do so much based on a script and a director directing them. So here are a few things that stand out.

-Was it kinda `stagey'? Cheating to the camera is one thing, but playing to the camera as Marissa (Bonnevie) did in the break up scene was just so. well, `stagey'! (that was just one of many)

-Who knew Gerry (Davao) was gonna kiss Mike (De Leon)? Was that just so fricken' obvious? That didn't come out of nowhere but it could have. And if it did, it would have been a very dramatic moment. And what does it say about Davao's character, who we rooted for, when he was so in love with a man dying of AIDS? He just cheated on his life long partner at the END of the movie!!!

If the film was structurally sound, the archs would have been more convincing.

The 'kiss' and Tere's (Picache) breakdown, for example, could have all been structured as a midpoint sequence. It would have been interesting to watch their lives play out for the whole second act after that. Then we could see rewards for what they went through at the VERY end: Gerry possibly coming to terms with his mother and Mike, or Tere finding the love of her dreams, etc. etc. etc.

Overall, the film was able to portray life here (America) as Filipino Americans and some of the cultures: The party where people were dancing in the b.g. (where was the pig on the table?), the American/Filipino language, the rich bitch, the political angst, the hardships, and the results of labor.

But it lacked in direction, story and style.

What got it made? Here's your answer: PASSION.

PASSION - the number one lesson from this film for future or current filmmakers!

I have heard so many good reviews about this film, for me basically the movie is about, how do Filipinos adapt to a very different place. The film entails a lot of challenges in life one has to face especially if not in his homeland. The story is light, sad moments were not so sad, and funny moments were not so funny.

One thing though, the film tends to over explain things, this would have done better. It is one of those movies that equates food into the story, this time i have hardly seen the connection, it did not show up to the mainstream of the movie.

The characters did perform well, though some parts wherein they were acting unnaturally. The script is very light.

Ricky Davao,I should say did very well in the movie, he deserves to be in the list of best actors in the Philippines.

American Adobo tastes good,but it's overcooked. 5/10