by Cheeno Marlo Sayuno
We live in an era where fighting for rights has always been everyone's battle. We would never allow others to violate our rights for expression and all the other things just because of our class, age, or gender. For instance, the feminism began when female theorists started criticizing how the society treats women, that is, an object to men. They began deconstructing literature and art and how these representations favor males. They looked into the history and began problematizing the fact that women are less important than men. They believe that women have power as well and there should be equality. The society then started accepting female rights, and now, both genders can vote, run for positions, and do the same jobs.
Then, LGBT rights became the next thing to fight for. While men and women are equal, the LGBT community would like to point out that they are part of these equating society of the two genders. They should have their share of the societal respect. Although still in the process, these people are being accepted by the society because they are being understood and that they even do well in their crafts, becoming productive and intellectual members of the society.
In order for the LGBT people to be understood and accepted more, I believe that media would have a great share of influence. Thus, their portrayal in media forms should regard them with respect, no matter the form of entertainment or the genre used. While, of course, we understand that comedy only wants us to laugh, of course, whatever portrayal is shown in comedy films, especially on these still partly unaccepted genders, would have a bearing, no matter how big or small, to the community.
Star Cinema's "This Guy's In Love With You, Mare" stars the phenomenal Vice Ganda, along with Toni Gonzaga and Luis Manzano. This film shows a spectacle of gender and how each of the representative gender is portrayed. The story revolves on Lester (Vice), who was left by then-lover Mike (Manzano), as he tries to court Gemma (Gonzaga), Mike's fiancee, in order to make the two break up for him to have Mike again.
Good Points
1. For the record, this film is far better than previous Vice Ganda films. While "Praybeyt Benjamin" was effective in the sense that it was meant to be a comedy film and it did make us laugh, "This Guy's In Love With You, Mare" had more substance and sense when it comes to the plot, although Praybeyt had funnier antics. There are a lot of funny scenes, and still, the character buildup and the central storyline were still taken into consideration.
2. The acting of the main characters were really promising. The performance of Toni Gonzaga was really commendable. She was able to deliver in the funny scenes, and her more serious scenes were really moving. Vice Ganda was also commendable because, well, aside from her humor that would really make your stomach hurt, he was able to portray his masculinity without trying too hard. There are gay comedians who, when trying to portray masculinity, were still obviously doing it for the sake of entertainment that their being feminine was still very much obvious. Vice Ganda's male counterpart was seriously done without mustache and all, and he was great at that. He didn't need props just to act as a male despite his real gender, while of course still maintaining the entertainment factor. The cast ensemble, especially Buboy Garovillo and Tessie Tomas, complemented with the main characters' performances.
3. The highlight on Aegis and April Boy Regino is something that we would also have to appreciate. While people may look into it as part of the ridicule, I believe that it is something about appreciating and looking back at the classics that were already part of our rich OPM history. These musical performers are already institutions in the industry, and it was good that they were treated well in the story, that is, as stars that they will always be.
Not-So-Good Points
1. While rich families indeed have a tendency to be cruel to people of lower class, the portrayal of Gemma's rich family does not exemplify the Filipino ways. If you have watched the film, you would have seen the parts where Mike, a visitor, was not given a seat at the dining table. By nature, Filipinos are particularly hospitable to visitors. Although there were hints that Gemma's parents do not like Mike to be Gemma's husband and despite the fact that this was done for comedy, it was unnatural for Filipino families to do that. They would still treat the visitor properly.
2. While Mike's family was portrayed well and was a representation of how poor families are, the storyline presents the family's acceptance of the culture of the gay people being the source of money. However, Mike's father was supportive but warned Mike of the consequences, which is something positive because it shows fraternal support.
3. The film's plot was patriarchal, with Mike being the center. There was less empowerment on female and gay characters, as they were very much dependent on the male character. This is discussed below.
On Queers and Females (that are portrayed not so good)
1. The film, as mentioned earlier, portrayed women as being too much dependent on men. Gemma, albeit powerful in the parts where Mike and even Lester were apologetic because she stood by her decision, was shown as a weak character, too much affected by how the male characters played on her. Also, in the part where Mike would jump into a river (which wasn't that high for a suicide), Gemma showed submission to power so that Mike would not jump. This is because of love, but still, it could be deconstructed as the female submitting herself to the male, doing what the male character wants.
2. Another scene that does not favor feminism is the earlier part where the bride who was possibly left by her groom jumped into the river. It shows weakness of females and their being too much affected by males. It would hurt, of course, to be left, but committing suicide just because of that is weakness in the part of the female, giving up life that easy because of the male.
3. The acceptance to gay/male relationship was shown in the film. However, it was shown in such a way that the gay character was a provider to the male. For me, showing that and embracing that kind of relationship is not something that could help in uplifting the status of our LGBT countrymen. It might be true, but to promote that kind of relationship on the big screen, humor or not, would only lead to gay people being continually treated that way. Although Mike was shown to have passion for Lester, there was still the obsession of the male to the material things, which the gay character used to have the male. Gay people, I believe, would want to be treated with love, without the material things being used to lure their partner into loving them, although the society, in one way or another, mirrors that. There wasn't a promotion to the alteration of that culture.
4. Moreover, the gay character was portrayed as pathetic. Although the film revolves around that and that the film ended with the gay's acceptance, it was pathetic in the sense that the gay was too desperate that he did grave measures to have the male back. It was less empowering on his part and the gender that he represents.
Media are instrumental to the honing of a society and the culture that it carries. We might not see the effect directly and real time, but there would be an effect. If we portray oppressed members of the society in a way that could lead to them being more suppressed than they already are, it would not do much good for them. It won't help and would even have grave effects that would not favor them. I know that the film in question is an entertainment film meant to make people laugh, but we also have to consider how, despite its being a comedy film that people should not take too seriously, could help in shaping the society where we thrive in. People have a tendency to be influenced too easily especially by media. Let us use that opportunity on a positive note.
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