Otso-Otso is now a movie

Fresh from his two starrers shown one after the other (Regal Films’ 2003 Metro Manila Filmfest entry Gagamboy and Star Cinema’s Mr. Suave), Vhong Navarro teams up with Bayani Agbayani in Star Cinema’s Otso-Otso Pamela-Mela One, inspired by two novelty hit songs–Bayani’s Otso-Otso and Vhong’s Pamela-Mela-One–that are taking the country by storm and getting everybody to dance.

"Masarap makipag-otso-otso kay Vhong," said Bayani who is doing a movie with Vhong for the first time, although they’ve been together in several ABS-CBN shows.

"Mas lalong masarap makipag-Pamela-Mela-One kay Bayani," said Vhong who started as a member of the dance group Streetboys and ended up one of the country’s bright young comedians.

Otso-Otso Pamela-Mela-One promises to be a fun movie, as invigorating as the effect of the songs which are on the lips–and the hips–of every fun-loving Pinoy.

"You’re right," said direk Jerry Lopez-Sineneng, "it’s a fun movie from the first frame to the last frame. I won’t be surprised if moviegoers will not only sing along inside the moviehouses but also dance along with the movie’s stars."

Otso-Otso Pamela-Mela-One, scripted by Mel del Rosario, also stars Cherry Lou, Angeline Aguilar, Michelle Bayle, Denise Joaquin, Pinky Marquez, Karl Marquez, Robin da Rosa, Jaboom Twins, Roco Twins, Dexter Doria and Tessie Tomas.

In the movie, Bayani and Vhong play outcasts in their own families. They find a soul mate in each other and thus prove that misery loves company.

Bayani is Boy, the only moreno in a family of mestizos and mestizas; Vhong is Amboy, the only under-achiever in a family of over-achievers. Clearly, they stand out like sore thumbs in their respective families.

During a party held for twin girls who have been their childhood crushes which they gatecrash, Bayani and Vhong introduce the otso-otso dance before they embark on a trip to Manila to find their purpose in life.

At about this time, Chinese twins Mao and Dao (also played by Bayani and Vhong) leave the city in protest against their parents’ plan to marry them off to girls they don’t like. Thus starts an adventure made more confusing by mistaken identity, with Bayani and Vhong pretending to be the Chinese twins–and vice-versa with surprisingly good results.

"This is the kind of movie we all need in times like this," said direk Jerry.

Now, wouldn’t it be a lot of fun if the whole world dances to Otso-Otso and Pamela-Mela-One?