"Will the onscreen magic continue in the movie?"
This is the question that instantly popped into my head when I first heard that the TheIdeaFirst Company's hit BL series Gameboys would get its own movie. As a fan, I can't help but think that its first season has elements that made it unique and may not translate well on a movie-length production. From the cheesy banter between Gavreel Alarcon (Kokoy de Santos) and Cairo Lazaro (Elijah Canlas) to our favorite Pearl Gatdula (Adrianna So) moments, maintaining that "kilig" vibe and funk for a movie is definitely a challenge. But aside from that, I was afraid that it would end up being a cliche romance movie.
Read: 'Gameboys' is by far the best Filipino BL series
However, as I press play and indulge in the movie, I have forgotten all my worries.
IdeaFirstCompany's Gameboys: The Movie is more than a love story; it's a life story.
The movie picked up where the series left off — the CaiReel couple moving together before Cairo moved back to his family's province. It started very smoothly and charmingly, giving us a glimpse of how their relationship goes. But as we dive into their story the plot unravels itself making it more interesting to watch.
For the first season of the series, we were introduced to Elijah's character, Cairo, and how he faced the challenges of falling in love in the darkest times of his life. This time, for the movie, the series' screenwriter Ash Malanum made a rightful decision to reintroduce us to his other lead character, Gavreel. In the film, we got to see so much more than the happy-go-lucky side of Kokoy's character. We delved into his traumas, grief, and family struggles that laid underneath his smiles.
It is morethan a love story
Most people might not realize this, but Gameboys: The Movie is also a barkada film! The chemistry between the cast transcendent boundaries, especially between Gav, Cai, and Pearl.
While the original series already showcased the acting talents of Elijah and Kokoy, this film proves that they have more in store for us. There were no dull moments, especially during cute romantic scenes. Still, their undeniable talents are in full range during dramatic scenes. Adriana So as Pearl also proves that she's the glue that's keeping everything in place. Her presence and bubbly personality certainly make everything more colorful and interesting.
Miggy Jimenez as Wesley Torres, Kyle Velino as Terrence Carreon, and Kych Minemoto as Achilles De Dios also made the movie even more exciting and made us more curious about ALTGameboys. Angie Castrence's portrayal of the overly religious and ultimate BOOMER Tita Susan, is so effective (I wanted her to d-word,TBH)..
So is it worth the watch?
The movie took many risks, and odd turns that others might deem lacking, but at least they tried to make a point and put their best foot forward to make their message across. The way they dived into homophobia, harassment, traumatic loss, societal stigma, bias, and rejection might be too subtle for some. Still, it made valid points that should stick through even after the movie.
Sure, It's not perfect. Some scenes and storylines needed more emphasis because it sometimes moves a little too fast. However, the movie still came through and did what it opts to do — to tell the story of every Gavreel or Cairo out there.
Their story has always been unique but undeniably familiar in the most relatable way. Throughout the one hour and 47 minutes of the film, to say that its overall cinematic experience was phenomenal is an understatement. Director Ivan Payawal and the entirety of the production gave us more than what we asked for, and it's beyond amazing.
Gameboys: The Movie is available for streaming until August 8, 2021. Go get your tickets now here or here.
━━Written by Mark Baccay
