MANILA, Philippines--Toni Gonzaga and director Paul Soriano had mixed feelings when the domestic drama, ?A Journey Home,? was premiered at Megamall two Saturdays ago, as Pepeng was just starting to make his destructive presence felt.

What?s so special about the film? ?It?s an answered prayer?it took three years to make. It?s inspirational, and moviegoers certainly need something like this in these trying times,? Paul told us before the screening, then tried to make light of the situation. ?And, it?s the only movie premiered during a typhoon.?

To play her part well, Toni said she had to jump out of her comfort zone. Indeed, her character, Gayle Santos, is the antithesis of the kooky, tomboy stereotypes she usually portrays in Star Cinema?s faddish rom-coms. ?My character is very different?and, this time, the movie isn?t about me.?

Detachment

True enough, in the production, Toni is an outsider looking in as her character tries her best to patch things up between her husband, Raffy (Joem Bascon), and his estranged father, Dante (Soliman Cruz), who comes home when he finds out about his wife?s passing. Unfortunately, Raffy doesn?t want to have anything to do with his father. His detachment is understandable: His dad, now jobless and terminally ill, abandoned the family 20 years ago.

Soriano?s full-length feature debut?which examines the dynamics of sin and forgiveness in a family setting?deserves to be seen for the relevant themes it tackles and the significant lessons it imparts.

On the minus side, some scenes feel slower than they should be, and the movie could benefit from judicious editing of overabundant voice-overs. Another hitch is the caricaturish depiction of some characters?like Lance Raymundo?s abusive, two-timing husband character, who?s too much of a contravida to be believable.

The youthful director and his passionate cast utilize humor to soften the alienating impact of some preachifying moments, or to lighten up dragging sequences. Cruz effectively juggles pathos, thespic verve and comedic irony to contextualize his bad-boy-gone-good character. His scenes with the hilarious Tia Pusit are a breather from all the doom and gloom.

Bascon is initially tentative in his grasp of the character of the bitter son, but eventually grows into the role and shines in some highly charged dramatic moments. Similarly notable is cute-as-a-button child actress, Thrisha Cañete aka Cha-cha, who delights viewers with her natural spunk and perceptive delivery. We?d love to see more of the precocious tyke.

Deceptively simple

And, Toni? On surface, the actress? portrayal looks like a leisurely walk in the thespic park. Fact is, her role is deceptively simple but crucial, because Gayle is really the tie that binds all the characters together?and she holds the key to Dante and Raffy?s salvation. Plus, her calming, radiant presence shakes off some of the dourness of the dramatic scenes.