by Anna Gamboa
In an age when gender fluidity is easily discussed, this slightly clunky comedy explores what could happen if a gay man goes straight, thanks to a nasty conk to the head.
Eric (Carl Guevarra), a talented hairdresser, is relatively happy with his life, although in his idle moments he wonders what it would be like to be straight and have a son of his own. Nevertheless, he’s well-loved by his colleagues at the salon and protected by his best friend, Jeans (Gwen Zamora). After an altercation with an ex-lover lands Eric in the hospital, the young man wakes up from a coma preferring flowers over boys. In fact, the new Eric turns out to be a lothario of almost the highest order preying on the salon’s customers, and at some point he even despises himself.
While entertaining to watch, with its refreshing depiction of a mature and loving gay relationship – the half of which portrayed by the talented Vince de Jesus, and portraying a better spectrum of personalities from the lesbian and gay community other than the stereotyped butch girl and swishy boy – the film’s ending leaves much to be desired. It seems to pander to general or safe tastes, which is a bit of a letdown given the somewhat daring premise. Gwen Zamora, who showed much more range in Apocalypse Child, is underutilized in this flick, as is Cris Lomotan as Franco, Eric’s boyfriend of several months who dumped him in favor of marrying a woman for a green card.
The issue of gender fluidity was tackled in a more entertaining and daring manner in Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington, Part 1 some years ago. Straight to the Heart could have been just as good, or better, perhaps with a tighter story.
The CineFilipino Film Festival will be at UP Diliman’s Cine Adarna on April 18 to 23, 2016.
