“Wang Fam” may struggle to earn nods with its messy narrative and broad humor, alone.
It is practically cut from the same cloth as any Wenn Deramas movies where ephemeral comedy is taken into the spotlight at the expense of a palpable story meant to be absorbed. But delving deep into it, there is arguably something of sense that could have been exploited for better purpose, except for some reason, it is relagated to the sidelines to give way for the movie’s transient comic efforts.
The film is most sensible when it sticks to the part where the narrative runs through the events of the titular Wang family, itself, only to stumble when taking the villains and their off expositions into the picture.
You do not have to see the Twilight movies to learn that this is practically a parody. It is a Deramas film, afterall–an assembled mess collected out of countless others. That does not necessarily mean a bad thing, for it would not be too hard to appreciate Deramas’ singular motive if you are only up for the laughs.
The film follows the Wang Family–a family of vampires, struggling to live a normal life in the heart of the city. The story begins eighteen years ago, when Malou (Pokwang), was prepared to be a sacrificial virgin to the aswang queen but fell in love with Boo (Benjie Paras), a human, and opted to run away, instead.
Now trying to fit into the city life, Wang Family find themselves surrounded by suspicious neighbors, while also facing the threats of having found by their vengeful relatives who have not moved on yet from Malou’s betrayal to their race.
The conflict is most palpable at this point, but the proceedings stumble miserably to make the villains’ threats convincing enough for them not just become mere comic entities. Instead, the film treats its villains as objects of humor at best, but doesn’t bother to make their motives connect well with the Wangs.
The imminence is just missing, and that makes all the part of these villains, questionably necessary.
In truth, the story stands firm with the Wang family’s efforts and struggles to not be discovered by their neighbors, alone, its humor and drama more effective and salient.
There is this one point when it is close to making a compelling case of a family longing for their place in the society, but it misses out the last piece to make the argument hit home.
At some point, “Wang Fam” surprisingly clings on heartfelt moments that it almost makes all its nonsense mess, bearable, only to fall back again to the more superficial comedy it seems to maintain cover itself on the surface for its entire run.
The film wastes these moments that it almost seems it has failed to see them as anomalous gems scattered though a messy lay out of yet another lazy entertainment from Deramas.
If it is just for the brittle laughs and chuckles, then there is no reason for this film to not earn a recommendation, but frankly, are we not tired for this retreads, yet?
RATING: 6/10 (JE)
