?Ang Tanging Pamilya?
D: Wenn Deramas
S: Joseph Estrada, AiAi delas Alas, Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby

MANILA, Philippines ? Divergent comedic styles and wacky personalities coalesce in Wenn Deramas? latest rib-tickler, ?Ang Tanging Pamilya?: Lovebirds, Charlie and Prince (Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby), have had enough of their two-year, long-distance relationship?so, they decide to get married.

But, they soon realize that taking the marital plunge isn?t as easy as it seems, especially if they have parents like Dindo (Joseph Estrada) and Sunshine (AiAi delas Alas), whose Catholic, blue-collar upbringing requires the groom-to-be to go through Pinoy-style pamanhikan.

Sunshine?s other concern is that Prince just might turn out to be like her do-gooder, populist hubby, who tends to prioritize other people?s needs over his family. In fact, she once saw her church wedding go down the drain and had to settle for civil rites after Dindo left her waiting at the altar to perform one of his many good deeds.

Comedic mayhem further ensues when Prince?s American father (Miguel Faustmann) and Pinoy mother, Marlene (Dionisia Pacquiao), arrive from the States to oversee Prince and Charlie?s wedding preparations. Marlene wants things done her way, which greatly displeases Sunshine, because she has plans of her own.

Soon, the stubborn matriarchs figure in a ?battle? for supremacy that sees them fighting over everything?from wedding gown to grammar. They even embark on a terpsichorean showdown that has them dancing the singkil and tinikling, forgetting that the occasion is really more a celebration of love than a duel between two giant egos. The riotous matchup eventually takes its toll on the relationship of Prince and Charlie, an unfortunate situation that serves as a wakeup call for their feisty parents.

Deramas? film has wacky, laugh-out-loud moments that rely more on situational humor than silly visual gags and loud-and-livid delivery. The funny situations the characters encounter are anchored on Filipino traditions?so, however silly they occasionally appear (Erap, who?s a jeepney driver, tests Sam?s love for Toni by making him go through embarrassing situations as his conductor, etc.), the humor they generate feels more organic, not forced.

Estrada, who?s no slouch at comedy, is obviously a tempering presence?Deramas? usual funnymen and offbeat characters don?t go overboard with their comic antics, because the time-honed dramatic-comedic legend is around.

As a result, the film?s humor feels more old-fashioned, but heart-warmingly real. The action star still knows how to turn on the charm?he may already be a bit sluggish, but his dramatic, comedic and action zingers are as potent as ever.

Not everything about the movie works, however: Toni and AiAi?s scenes with Sam?s female best friend don?t work at all. Also less than successful are the scenes where the characters deliver too-nasty-to-be-funny lines against one another (?Ikakasal ka ba o iki-cremate?,? ?Mukha kang tostadong butiki,? etc.). ?And we thought name-calling was already a thing of the past.

Another major downer: Prince punches Sunshine in the gut after they reference the popular Vilma Santos-John Lloyd Cruz confrontation scene in ?In My Life.? Say what you will about freestyle comedy, but this type of violence is and will always be no laughing matter.

And, while their chemistry is as strong as ever, Toni and Sam aren?t really required to do much, other than help the film move from one plotline to the next. As for Tinseltown?s latest comedienne, Dionisia, we have to commend Deramas for his judicious use of Pacman?s old lady.

Mrs. Pacquiao is a passionate performer who mugs as happily as she?s directed. She generates hearty laughter for her spot-on characterization of a woman who has seen some hard times, but has since become the flashiest, most ultrarich matron in town. ?A case of art imitating life, indeed.