Father Jejemon intact sans communion scenes

As of press time, RVQ Production’s official entry to the 2010 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), Father Jejemon, is having problems with the Movie & Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Newly-appointed chair Grace Poe-Llamanzares is asking for a second review after the board apparently received complaints from some sectors about certain scenes from the movie that offend Catholic sensibilities.

I salute chairperson Llamanzares for taking immediate action and responding to feedback from the public. But are the complaints valid?

It would seem that MTRCB’s attention was called after some people saw the film’s trailer that obviously contains those supposedly offensive scenes. I didn’t see the trailer, but I saw the movie in its entirety and allow me to review first this latest Dolphy project before zeroing in on the problem.

Father Jejemon casts Dolphy as a cool priest, who can tinker with an electric guitar. His ways are not as musty as the Sistine Chapel. He is liberal and doesn’t have hypocritical views like the CBCP.

The story begins when he is made to replace Tony Mabesa, the parish priest of a young community controlled by corrupt businessman Roy Alvarez. Initially he has difficulty getting accepted by parishioners. But when he finally gets welcomed by his flock he has to save the parish church from the greed of Alvarez, who is bent on converting the place of worship as part of a golf course being developed by a group of Japanese co-investors. In time, he also figures in a sex scandal that should no longer surprise the Vatican.

Father Jejemon has a very solid screenplay written by Bibeth Orteza and Rhandy Reyes. The direction by Frank Gray Jr. may have a ‘70s feel to it, but the material still works. The situations are funny and it is quite enjoyable as a comedy.

The movie further emphasizes the fact that there is truth to the showbiz saying that there are no small roles, only small actors. Cherie Gil demonstrates this clearly in Father Jejemon.

In terms of importance, Cherie’s role as the youngest sister of Tony Mabesa could actually be given to a lesser-known actress. Good they didn’t since Cherie is able to put a whole new dimension to it. The part now becomes memorable — all because Cherie is so talented she manages to add a lot of life and color to what could otherwise have been a forgettable screen role. She is at her most effective in the part where she and Dolphy hide a fugitive in the convent office. With their combined acting gifts and the very funny scenario, it becomes one of Father Jejemon’s most brilliant comedic scenes. No slapstick. An acting royalty of Cherie’s level would not have allowed it.

Roy also delivers an impressive performance as the wicked businessman with good PR. His acting is tempered. He may be bad, but he is not the stereotyped evil monster. He also has a good side — like being a loving and responsible father to son Ejay Falcon (he and his love interest Maja Salvador also give very decent performances). Roy doesn’t waste that gray shade of character whipped up for him by writers Orteza and Reyes.

Of course, the film’s best performance comes from the legendary Dolphy. His timing is still impeccable. This is another one of the Comedy King’s excellent performances. And he still has another short, but great one in Rosario, his best performance ever after Lino Brocka’s Ang Tatay Kong Nanay. (I didn’t see him in Frank’s Omeng Satanasia that gave him his first acting award.)

The performances of the actors truly make this movie succeed and it is one of the most entertaining in the festival. Credit also goes to the director and the writers.

Father Jejemon actually offers a lot of very funny scenes that would be appreciated by all types of audiences. Although I wouldn’t say that its comedy is highly sophisticated, there is nothing there that is lowbrow. No toilet humor either.

Then comes that entire controversial sequence to be resolved by the MTRCB. I say take it out! No, I didn’t say take it off — like they do at strip joints.

That whole part has to go — those scenes showing parishioners taking communion. It starts with Dolphy and the communicant getting confused if the Host symbolizing the body of Christ should be placed on the palms or on the tongue, which is more traditional. The film tries to elicit laughter from that, but ends up leaving a bad taste in the mouth.

At one point, the Host gets dribbled and jumps into the cleavage of a woman, who receives communion. Now, that is downright sacrilegious.

Then comes the part where an old lady bites into the Host and Dolphy is left holding her dentures — with the holy Host stuck in between the false teeth. Now, that is just plain distasteful.

I am no rabid Catholic, but I am offended. To the MTRCB I am not trying to dictate what you should do, but take that out please to avoid religious conflict in this blessed season. I’m not usually for cutting films up, but that sequence shouldn’t have even been there in the first place. Whose idea was it anyway?

I love the film, but I denounce the communion scenes in it. Remove those, please. The movie would still stand anyway and even with the excision of those scenes, the flow of the story is not affected at all. There’s still 99 percent of the film to enjoy.

To the people behind RVQ productions, say goodbye to that offensive sequence. Even without that, be confident that you still have a good film product that viewers will relish and treasure.

But act on this problem now before the CBCP steps in and I’m going to be on their side this time.