Review of D'NINANG: Meeting a Missing Mother

January 23, 2020

This past decade, Ai Ai de las Alas was being noticed more for her indie dramas "Ronda" (2014), "Area" (2016) and "School Service" (2018). In 2017, she had two comedies, "Bes and the Beshies" and "Our Mighty Yaya," both of which were maligned by critics. She returned in 2019 with three consecutive bombs: "S.O.N.S (Sons of Nanay Sabel)," "Feelenial: Feeling Millennial" and "And Ai, Thank You." Unperturbed, Ai Ai is back again this year with yet another comedy-drama called "D'Ninang." 

Ditas was the leader of a gang of pickpockets operating in Cubao. Among the members of her gang were the drunkard Lolo Medi (Lou Veloso), the street-smart Sol (Angel Guardian), the flirty Lorena (Kiray Celis), while Gracia (Joey Marquez) was a policeman she had under her payroll. Like a "Robin Hood," Ditas would generously provide financial and material help to everyone in her neighborhood who would request for her help, earning her the nickname of "Ninang" or "Godmother."

One day, Ditas visited the wake of a former boyfriend, she got reunited with her teenage daughter Mikhai (Kisses Delavin) whom she abandoned all those years ago. When Ditas brought Mikhai to live with her in Cubao however, things went topsy-turvy trying to hide her illegal operations from her crime-hating daughter. So Ditas decided to finally change her ways and say goodbye to her life of crime. However, it was not going to be that simple for Ditas to turn over a new leaf. 

As Ditas, Ai Ai de las Alas is in another mother role, a role that had been a good luck charm for her. She became a box-office star in the first decade of the new millennium and earned the title of Comedy Queen with the "Tanging Ina" films (2003, 2008, 2010, 2011). Even in her last film, Coco Martin's MMFF 2019 entry "3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon!," she played Coco's mother. So her role here as Ditas was not exactly too much of a stretch for her acting skills as this was right in her comfort zone of comedy and drama. She had not lost her touch for wry self-deprecating humor, despite the limitations of the material.

The young actors in the cast provided some diversion from Ditas' story. Kisses Delavin played Mikhai, a bitter daughter who found it hard to forgive a mother who was never there for her. Her rude behavior towards Ditas was not easy to watch. The winsome McCoy de Leon made a great impression as Kali (short for Kalayaan), the schoolmate smitten by Mikhai's charms. A new young actress named Angel Guardian played the role of Sol, an orphan who grew up with Ditas as her partner in crime. She had good screen presence beside these more known actors, but maybe she has to change her screen name to be taken more seriously as an actress. Noted ENT surgeon Dr. Kirt Delovino registered well on the big screen as a compassionate heart surgeon. 

From the poster alone, you knew that this was going to be a "jologs" comedy. There would be some dramatic elements, following the success formula of the "Tanging Ina" films.  Director GB Sampedro told his story in an easygoing manner, even if the main plot is largely predictable. The gags were mostly old and not all worked, while true LOL moments came few and far between. Even then, I'd say this film was not a total waste of time for those enjoy this type of popcorn, lowbrow comedy, largely thanks to the efforts of its actors. 

The thing that bothered me most was the MTRCB rating of G. From the very first scene up to its Mexican standoff climax, there were scenes showing blatant crimes being committed. At first, these petty thievery were even shown to be perpetrated by children. There was a character praying for forgiveness in church, but would steal from the pockets and bags around her at the same time. There was a sequence where a pawn shop robbery was described and shown step by step. These crimes may have been done in a comic way, but just the same, this should have been rated PG at the very least, not G. 5/10.