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The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin
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Wikipedia article
'The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin' (simply known as 'Praybeyt Benjamin') is a 2011 Filipino action comedy parody film directed by Wenn V. Deramas and starring Eddie Garcia, Nikki Valdez, Vice Ganda, Vandolph Quizon, Derek Ramsay and Jimmy Santos. It was written and directed by Wenn V. Deramas.[http://www.pep.ph/news/30464/wenn-deramas-wants-no-part-in-vic-sotto-ai-ai-delas-alas-mmff-movie-enteng-ng-ina-mo Wenn Deramas wants no part in MMFF movie 'Enteng ng Ina Mo'] accessed October 3, 2011[http://www.pep.ph/news/31277/Jobert Sucaldito-defends-Kean-Cipriano-for-admitting-he-hasnt-slept-with-a-gay Vice Ganda defends Kean Cipriano for admitting he hasn't slept with a gay] accessed October 3, 2011
The film is the first Filipino film to break the P300 million mark in the box office. It is the highest grossing Filipino film in 2011 and once held the title of the highest-grossing Filipino film of all time, until it was surpassed by the 2012 Metro Manila Film Fest entry, 'Sisterakas'.[http://www.viva.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3016:praybeyt-benjamin-now-the-highest-grossing-film&catid=1:news&Itemid=2 Praybeyt Benjamin, highest-grossing film!]. Viva.com.ph (2011-11-09). Retrieved on 2011-12-01. The film made Vice Ganda the 'Phenomenal Box Office Star of 2011', awarded by the 'Box Office Entertainment Awards'.
Plot
It starts in the Philippines as Lapu-Lapu fights Ferdinand Magellan and wins the fierce battle defeating Magellan in 1521. Later in 1898, as the Katipunans are salvaged their graceful solitary friends and fight those bad guys. In the Japanese War in 1942, the battle cry settled in as the other Japanese went to attack the terrorists.
In the present day, Benjamin "Benjie" Santos VIII (Vice Ganda) comes from a long line of warriors and soldiers. His grandfather, Benjamin Santos VI (Eddie Garcia), expects him to be in the army and to be like his ancestors who fought every battle in the country. He lives with his parents and two sisters named Jesamine (Angelie Urquico) and Anjamin (Abby Bautista).
His father, Benjamin Santos VII (Jimmy Santos), gives being a military soldier to be what he wants to be, a scientist and an inventor. Benjie's grandfather does not agree with his decision and Benjie and his immediate family were forced to leave his grandfather's house. They now live in a cramped house, where they started a new life. His father, as expected, followed what makes him happy. He invented gadgets and unique deadly weapons. Some examples are the 'Utot-gun' , a fan that shoots bullets, and a tiara that can potentially kill thousands of people.
A few years later they were invited to his grandfather's 75th birthday by relatives. His grandfather finds out Benjie is gay. They were asked to leave and to never show themselves again and declares them a disgrace to the Santos family.
A terrorist organization, Bandidos International starts a civil war in the Philippines and kidnaps Benjie's grandfather and other high-ranking officials. A leader of the group named Abe Sayyep claims they have taken over the whole country. The Philippine government introduced conscription as part of their fight against the terrorist forcing Benjie to enlist in place of his ailing father. In the camp, Benjie meets other members of his platoon. He was later introduced to his group's commander Brandon Estolas (Derek Ramsay) and became secretly infatuated with him. Benjie's group initially performs poorly in training and was in danger of being dissolved. His group decides to train at night, and show their improvement in the morning. A rival group, incensed with constantly losing to Benjie's group during training, sought to reveal Benjie's sexuality by getting Benjie drunk and filming him dancing lewdly and effeminately.
The following morning, the High-General calls Benjie because of the video, and makes him leave the army. When Benjamin was about to leave, his friends joined him to show solidarity. They left the army, and while travelling a wooded area stumbled upon the location of the Bandidos International's base by accident. They went back to camp to inform the High General but the official won't believe the group. The whole camp believed the real enemy base was in Tanay, based on the army's gathered information and decided to attack there instead where they were later ambushed by hundreds of terrorists.
Meanwhile, Benjie's group returns to the enemy's real base, where they saw the terrorist's trucks with the captured forces, including Benjie's grandfather and Brandonthe group's former commander in the army. They plan to break in the enemy camp by dressing up as women to trick the guards into letting them inside their base. Once inside, the group kills many terrorists using the inventions of Benjie's father. Benjie manages to find his grandfather, Brandon, and the other generals. Benjie's grandfather thanks him and asks for forgiveness for treating him so badly. Benjie is then reunited with his group, where Abe Sayyep appears and attempts to shoot Benjie's grandfather. Benjie takes the bullet to save his grandfather resulting to his death.
Both him and Abe Sayyep is dead. In the afterlife, Benjie meets his ancestors who tells him that they are proud of him and tells him that it was not yet time for him to die. He is soon revived, and the group returns home, where they celebrate their victory with a party. Benjie tells his feelings for Brandon but Brandon rejected him saying he already has a fianc, a woman who looks exactly like him.
The closing credits was interrupted by Captain Tenille telling General Santos that the bravest soldiers were being called by the President of the Philippines. Benjie and his team happily accepts and excitingly said that there's a part 2 of the movie, indicating that there will be a sequel.
Cast and characters
Main cast
*Vice Ganda as Private Benjamin "Benjie" Santos VIII*Eddie Garcia as Minister Marshal Benjamin "Bino" Santos VI
*Jimmy Santos as Benjamin "Ben" Santos VII
*Derek Ramsay as Brandon Estolas
*Nikki Valdez as Lucresia Alcantara
*Kean Cipriano as Emerson Ecleo
*DJ Durano as Dominador "Dondi" Rosales
*Vandolph Quizon as Buhawi Manay
*Jojit Lorenzo as Joselito "Jojo / Jose" Makapagtagpo Jr. / Jose Remescal
*Ricky Rivero as Big Boy Carnate
*Mark Joseph Duran as Owl King
Supporting cast
*Carlos Agassi as Paul Marigma*Bodie Cruz as George Carang
*Tutti Caringal as Ringo Daway
*Malou de Guzman as Lilibeth Santos
*Dennis Padilla as Bentot Santos
*Angelie Urquico as Jesamine Santos
*Abby Bautista as Anjemin Santos
*Tess Antonio as Lisa Santos
*Jasper Visaya as Benten Santos
*Rubi Rubi as Captain Tenille
*Andrew Wolff as Abu Sayaff
*Emilio Garcia as Billy Aladdin
*Romhel Valera as Primitivo
Special Participation
*Luis Manzano as Ericson*Angelica Panganiban as Voice of Herself / Brandon's Fianc
*Yam Concepcion (cameo)
Filming
The movie was filmed in half of 2010 and wrapped up a month later. This film was based on the international box office comedy hit Private Benjamin.
Camera
Filmmakers are using retro movie cameras rather than modern movie cameras. This is the last movie to be made in 35mm film after Hating Kapatid. The film that they use is Fujifilm. Later, the movie underwent restoration for Blu-Ray/4K release.Reception
Release
The television trailer premiered in the talk show 'Gandang Gabi, Vice!' where Vice Ganda is also the host. It was announced in the trailer that the film will premiere on October 12, 2011. However, during the premiere of 'No Other Woman,' it was announced that the delayed premiere will be October 26, 2011.Rating
It was graded "B" by the Cinema Evaluation Board of the Philippines.[http://www.pep.ph/guide/movies/9198/%20pep-review:-%20vice-ganda-offers-a-consistent-rib-tickler-through-%20praybeyt-benjamin PEP REVIEW: Vice Ganda offers a consistent rib tickler through ''Praybeyt Benjamin'']. Pep.ph (2011-10-27). Retrieved on 2011-12-01.Box office
The film opened with PHP 23.6 million ticket sales during its first day and continued to break Philippine box-office records after grossing PHP 109 million on its fourth day of screening.[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/10/30/11/praybeyt-benjamin-earns-p110-m-only-4-days 'Praybeyt Benjamin' earns P110-M in 4 days]. abs-cbnNEWS.com. October 30, 2011 After its seventh day on air, it reached the PHP 200 million mark.[http://www.pep.ph/news/31774/PEP-EXCLUSIVE-Vice-Ganda-on-Praybeyt-Benjamins-earnings-of-P200-million-in-eight-days:-Alam-kong-maghi-hit-ang-movie,-pero-hindi-ganung-kalala! PEP Exclusive Vice Ganda on Praybeyt Benjamin's earnings of P200 million in eight days: "Alam kong maghi-hit ang movie, pero hindi ganung kalala!"]. Pep.ph. November 5, 2011 It broke the records set also by the previous Star Cinema-Viva Films produced film, 'No Other Woman.'Critical reaction
Although the film is one of the highest-grossing films in the Philippines of all time, reviews of the film have ranged from mixed to negative with most web critics citing the movies overly simplistic story and outdated slapstick humor. However, many reviewers have noted that the film's saving grace was the sharp comedic timing of Vice Ganda and Nikki Valdez' brilliant comic performance.Sequels
'The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin'
'The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin' finally premiered on December 25, 2014, as an official entry to the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival.
The sequel was introduced during a mid-credits scene.
In November 2011, ABS-CBN News reports that a sequel of the film, 'The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin' was already in works and was planned to be released as early as 2013.[https://web.archive.org/web/20111117155255/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/entertainment/11/17/11/praybeyt-benjamin-gets-sequel 'Praybeyt Benjamin,' niluluto na ang part 2]. abs-cbnnews. November 17, 2011 Vice Ganda is confirmed to be back for the sequel. A later announcement made at It's Showtime revealed that the sequel will likely air on December 25, 2014.
Third 'Praybeyt Benjamin' film
A third film was announced as it is officially part of the 46th Metro Manila Film Festival. Vice Ganda was expected to reprise his role. Its entry in the film festival was based on its script. Filming for the 'Praybeyt Benjamin' sequel has yet to take place as of October 2020 due to logistics issue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as uncertainties caused by the non-renewal of ABS-CBN's broadcast franchise. As a script-based submission, the 'Praybeyt Benjamin' film would have to be produced by November 30, 2020. The film was not among the final ten official entries of the film festival announced in November 2020.Awards
References
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