Movie Review: My House Husband Ikaw Na!

As promised by Octo-Arts Films during its series of press conferences, Bloggers were given the chance to cover and watch the red carpet premiere of “My House Husband Ikaw Na!” held at SM Megamall last December 22, 2011.

Graced by the whole cast including Direk Joey Reyes, Rocco Nacino, Eugene Domingo, Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo. The venue was jampacked with screaming fans to show their love and support for the cast and the movie.

For starter, “My House Husband Ikaw Na!” is not at all related to the Juday-Ryan blockbuster films “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo,” and “Sakal, Sakali, Sakalolo” which coincidentally is directed as well by one of my favorite director Jose Javier Reyes aka Direk Joey Reyes.

Here are some photos I took during the red carpet premiere:

After the presscon, we managed to get up close again with the cast and I personally admired Rocco Nacino, Eugene Domingo and Judy Ann Santos because they showed excitement seeing us Bloggers at their premiere night. It was a nice feeling indeed when people and a celebrity like them, remember us Bloggers.

Before I review the movie, here’s the full trailer and complete movie synopsis taken at “My House Husband Ikaw Na! official website:

Nothing prepared Rod (Ryan Agoncillo ) and Mia Alvarez (Judy Ann Santos) for the major changes that took place in their lives. ROD worked as a manager of a bank while MIA opted to remain a housewife taking care of their two children – Migo and Kaye – with an occasional sideline of selling insurance. Mia gave up her promising career in sales because Rod wanted to be the padre de familia. For Rod, it was the role of the man to provide for his wife and children … in the same manner that there was a clear cut delineation as to what are the duties of a husband from that of the wife.

But when a larger bank merged with Rod’s employer, he found himself out of work. Overqualified in a scarce job market, Rod’s pride forbade him to reveal the truth immediately to his wife. Eventually, when he could not find employment, he had to agree to take care of the house and the two kids most especially after their trusted housekeeper had to leave for an emergency vacation.

In the process, Rod learns to do the housework – as he begins to adjust to a life of domestication which he thought was unthinkable for a man like him to find interest. And as he learned the ropes in running a household, Mia’s career in selling insurance begins to blossom. Mia was surprised to find out that all the unfulfilled potential she had in her suddenly emerged for the appreciation of her bosses in the insurance company.

Trapped at home, Rod befriends their next door neighbor named Aida (Eugene Domingo) who everybody knows is a kept woman of a rich man who would occasionally visit her and her son to spend the night. Despite the scathing opinions hurled against Aida, Rod discovered a completely different woman – over and above all the moral charges set against her. She was simply looking for someone who could take care of her, provide her and her son a good sense of the future. More so, she was led to believe that all women were meant to be cared for by men … and, in return, the woman sacrifices everything for that sense of belonging.

Slowly Aida teaches Rod that there is nobility in being the caregiver of the family as well as the manager of the household. Rod, in turn, slowly opens the eyes of Aida that she cannot depend on anybody except herself to fend for survival. Aida was not too bright to realize that her material comforts were all too temporary because her benefactor could not provide her with a good future. As Rod and Aida’s friendship intensifies, Mia felt all the more suspicious about their neighbor’s intentions.

But the longer it took for Rod to find a job, the sooner it was for Mia to find a new definition to her life as well as a far more impressive level of confidence. Although the couple kept the situation a secret to the rest of their clans, ROD felt even more belittled when MIA’s arrogant brother-in-law Henry and sister Cynthia (Agot Isidro) began to offer help . Rod did not see this as an act of sincere help but as his wife’s family making him feel all the more inferior and helpless. It also did not help that Mia’s career advancement was most impressive – so much so that Rod realized that indeed there was a role reversal in their household. Now he had become the house husband while his wife became the successful provider.

Finally Rod decides that all this must come to an end. He decided to go abroad -to try his luck in Canada. Mia willingly agreed to give up her work and prepare for the family to move elsewhere. Rod was surprised to discover that his wife was willing to give up all she had ever wanted as a career fulfillment to become a housewife again in a foreign land. In the same vein, Rod made Aida realize that she too had to take a hold of her life and work on her own.

But as fate would have it, their luck finally changed. Rod finally found a job and he decided that if it would make Mia happy to keep her work in the insurance agency, then she should be given the chance to look for her own identity. Even Aida, now abandoned by her benefactor, has found greater self-assurance and worth when she stopped depending on the kindness of others to give meaning to her life.

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And here is my review about the movie:

“My House Husband Ikaw Na!” is one Pinoy movie I recommend especially to my couple friends. It is perfectly made for all the couples out there. The dialogues came out naturally – something you will say on a daily basis. Although expected as a comedy film (especially that Eugene Domingo is also part of this movie), they also have moments to give way to Judy Ann’s expertise in the drama genre. I love how the couple fight onscreen. It was cute and touching at the same time because you can somehow relate to it.

The whole movie can actually survive with just Judy Ann Santos, Ryan Agoncillo and Eugene Domingo. It was a little sad though that Rocco Nacino didn’t get enough exposure in this movie despite some shirks he received from his fans during the premiere. I felt his character was just placed there to add more “star value” for the film like in the case of other Kapuso talents and love team Derrick Monasterio and Lexi Fernandez (last seen in the suspense-thriller movie The Road) whose roles are totally forgettable and not necessary anymore.

The story is actually simple. But the moral lessons are all intact. What I find off though is Juday and Ryan’s onscreen son (John Aaron Novilla) who doesn’t have a refined manner or respectful to his parents. It’s a complete opposite to Sabrina Man’s character who plays as the other younger sibling. To be honest, I don’t like kids who doesn’t use “po” and “opo” because I still think Filipino should use that as a sign of respect.

Juday’s make up is also a little distracting because she overdo her foundation (but actually, I already noticed that during her two press conferences I covered). But of course, her acting is all that matters as she delivered fine performances especially their confrontation scenes with Ryan Agoncillo and with Eugene Domingo.

There are so many favorite scenes from the movie that I like and most of them is with Eugene Domingo. She is a natural. And she gave me a hearty laugh every time she gets wackier and wackier onscreen. I love her craziness and her EPIC FAIL suicide attempt in that movie.

Other supporting casts includes Agot Isidro, Francine Prieto, Miriam Quiambao, Boots Anson Roa, Dante Rivero, Bobby Andrews, Lui Villaruz and the special participation (and as what Direk Joey Reyes dubbed, “in his first human role”) of Shalala whom I believe should have given enough exposure in the film because he is a scene stealer as well as opposed to the other “extra” FHM January 2012 cover girl Ellen Adarna who was totally boring not just in her acting but as a person as well (you may read my insights about her here).

I also didn’t like one particular scene where Ryan Agoncillo cooked and served a burned pancakes. Come on, the guy is intelligent and anyone who don’t know how to cook, will definitely not served a food you, yourself wont even eat! But I guess in movies, you have to exaggerate a bit to make it looks funnier.

Although product placements (the movie’s sponsors includes GlutaMAX, Kenny Rogers and Emperador Light Brandy) are still visible in the film, it was slightly tolerable unlike the other Juday starrer with Sarah Geronimo for the movie “Hating Magkapatid” where everything is in your face already. It’s just funny that Pinoy movies adopt to this kind of system and remove the labels of other product even though it is important to the scene. Yes, it is a “no pay, no product placement” movie.

Over-all the movie is very entertaining. And Eugene deserves the Best Supporting Actress she received from the recent Metro Manila Film Festival. Sadly though that Ryan Agoncillo didn’t won over Dingdong Dantes whom I need to see if he deserves the Best Actor award for his MMFF entry “Segunda Mano“.

Anyways, My House Husband Ikaw Na! is still showing in theaters nationwide. Please support this family movie. You will definitely learn a thing or two from this film.