MANILA, Philippines?Have you noticed? The mainstream movie industry is slowly but surely staging a comeback?but not with its traditional formats or star combinations.

For instance, Vilma Santos is costarring with her son, Luis, in a new film, ?In My Life,? shot in the States, but it definitely isn?t another ?Anak? project. In fact, the movie turns the family-film format on its ear by casting Luis as a gay and giving him a lover played by erstwhile matinee idol, John Lloyd Cruz!

Issues

So, the film is shaping up as a serio-comic look at gender-bending issues that used to be shunned by ?legit? local movies for fear of turning family viewers off.

Yes, we?ve had many Filipino films about flaming fairies, but this isn?t ?Apo ni Pacifica Falayfay??not by a long shot. In fact, it?s no exaggeration to say that John Lloyd may be laying his flourishing career on the line in this production since the wrong tone could irritate instead of bemuse mainstream viewers.

Daring stars

On the other hand, if the movie hits the right notes, it could end up as a should-see film that would enable Luis and John Lloyd to come into their own as astutely daring stars.

What about Vilma? She?s also going out on a limb in this production, but the sensible Star for All Seasons can be depended on to cover all the bases when she tempts the film fates to do their worst?or best.

In ?Burlesk Queen,? she definitely acted out of the box, but came off smelling like roses. When she agreed to play an activist nun in Mike de Leon?s ?Sister Stella L,? she again surprised some people, but came up with one of the best and most informed portrayals of her career.

So, we wish the new movie well, and hope that it lives up to its promise.

Two thumbs up, too, for the latest ?Mano Po? movie, slated to be shown during the 2009 Metro Manila Film Fest, with Sharon Cuneta headlining. Here again is an instance of an ?old? film format being energized, this time by its fresh choice of star.

Like Vilma, Sharon has learned that, to continue to make her mark in the movies, she has to favor surprising projects over the usual ?safe? and predictable stuff. From ?Crying Ladies? to ?Caregiver? and this new Chinoy drama, she?s chosen to play relatively unconventional roles, with generally bracing results.

Also coming from left field is the big comedy project costarring Joseph Estrada and Ai-Ai delas Alas. Erap has done many really funny comedies in the course of his long career, so the new project should be similarly entertaining.

Finally, Aiko Melendez and Jomari Yllana are being reunited in another comedy?with Ogie Alcasid playing their ?daughter,? Angelina. Talk about surprising moviegoers, this brainstorm is a lulu. Michael V costars as Angelina?s much-put-upon yaya.

Game show

The fun project is a spin-off from Ogie and Michael?s comic characters on ?Bubble Gang,? and now on the GMA-7 game show, ?Hole in the Wall.? The ?crazy? project could just end up as a winner for Ogie and Michael, and that would be a most welcome development, because some comedy movies have failed to delight viewers this year.

But, it looks like mainstream producers have learned their lessons?the hard way. These days, you don?t just decide to make a movie, you first work hard to bolster its chances by making sure that its material is fresh, its star combination is exciting and unconventional, and it ends up as a should-see movie in viewers? books.