Regine Velasquez is back in the movies. Her latest, the romantic comedy titled, Of All The Things after the Dennis Lambert hit, is opening in theaters on Sept. 26. One of the few singing stars who also turned out to be a competent actress and big box-office draw, Regine returns to the role of the kooky, lovable girl who wrecks havoc on the lives of unsuspecting men in the much-awaited picture.
Given Regine’s past history, Of All The Things shows great potential for success at the tills. It marks her reunion with one of her favorite leading men, Aga Muhlach and with director Joyce Bernal and screenwriter Mel del Rosario. This was the same team who earlier helped steer Regine through two motion picture blockbusters, Dahil May Isang Ikaw in 1999 and Pangako…Ikaw Lang in 2001. Then in a way, the movie is also her comeback to the big screen and is another phase in her much-awaited return to active performing.
Take note that Regine took a break from work when she married fellow singer and actor Ogie Alcasid and then went through her pregnancy and the birth of their baby boy Nate. Since then, she has little by little lost her baby weight and inched herself back into a regular work schedule. This happened first on TV, in the weekly Party Pilipinas variety program and then in guest stints in assorted shows. And now here comes the movies.
Regine plays the charming Bernadette, a “fixer” in a government office with excellent convincing power and good connections in Of All The Things. You need anything “fixed,” as in court cases or licenses, permits, etc., you call Berns and she delivers. But one day she got into a jam that she could not fix and needed an instant lawyer. She shoves Aga, who is churning out notarizations under an umbrella on the sidewalk into the job.
But it turns out that Aga or Umboy is not really a lawyer. He is a Law graduate who has already taken the bar several times and failed to pass. Umboy has since then resigned himself to the life of a nobody and is unwilling to try the bar again lest he experience another failure. But Berns is not about to let anything around her stay “unfixed” for long. So she makes it her cause to turn Umboy into a full-fledged lawyer. How she goes about this results into a roller-coaster ride of laugher and romance, plus loads of invaluable lessons thrown in.
With Of All The Things already in the can, it would be nice to know that Regine has decided to return to recording. It has been quite a while and a new hit song from her might just boost music sales around here. Then I hope she decides to follow up with a solo concert. She has also not done this in a long time. Knowing how she works so hard to give her followers something truly special, I am sure she will come up with something very memorable. After these, her comeback will be really complete.
Incidentally, Regine’s live recording of O Holy Night with Willy Cruz on the piano is one of the featured songs in the Holiday collection Christmas With The Stars. I think this is one of the songbird’s best. Heartfelt vocals and a well-loved song combined into something truly beautiful. Come to think of it, I do not think Regine has ever recorded her own Christmas album. Maybe it is about time she does. Next Christmas, perhaps.
Meanwhile, it is now time to enjoy Regine and the really star-studded line-up of Christmas With The Stars album. It also includes Pasko Na Sinta Ko by Basil Valdez; The Christmas Song by Martin Nievera; Hiling Sa Pasko by Zsa Zsa Padilla; Merry Christmas Darling by Rico Puno; What Child Is This by Raymond Lauchengco; Kumukutikutitap by Rachelle Ann Go; Noche Buena by The CompanY; Himig Pasko by Mark Bautista; Give Love On Christmas Day by Princess; All I Want For Christmas Is You by Anya Aguilar; 25th of December by Joey Albert; The First Noel by Marvin Ong; Silent Night by Gino Padilla; Miss Kita Kung Christmas by Aiza Seguerra; Sana Ngayong Pasko by Sarah Geronimo; and It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve by Sharon Cuneta.