The memory board photos that adorn the opening credits looked too real to be Photoshopped. Sure enough, this is the genuine thing, a family affair built around the Basco Brothers, Philippines' answer to the 4 Marx Brothers. Duke’s (Dante Basco doing triple duty as star, writer, and director) one-take arrival at the wedding that opens the show is a heartfelt homage to Henry’s table-hop through the Copa in Goodfellas. The Bascos are “jungle Asians,” crazy middle-class Filipinos slung on the dark side of the family tree. The brothers are all assigned a chunk of the narrative with youngest brother David (Dionysio Basco) the least developed sibling whose pointless food porn fantasy positions him as the Zeppo in the bunch. It’s lightning pace makes it impossible to predict what’s around the corner. A business trip to Manilla and the impromptu visit to a church funeral that ensues is one of the many unexpected detours that give the film its favorable flow. The script occasionally feels as if writers Arianna, Dante, and Darion Basco first came up with a kicker and worked backwards, i.e. how did a very pregnant first date wind up at the family breakfast table. If it’s laughter and surprises you’re after, this is a sweet slice of fabulousness. (2021) — Scott Marks
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