Review of MUDRASTA: Stepped-on Stepmother

August 21, 2025

When he was in high school, Victor "Becky" Labrador (Roderick Paulate) helped to sell his mother's empanadas. One day, Becky was accidentally hit by the yellow VW Beetle of the rich, handsome new transferee student from Manila, Enrique Santillanes (Tonton Gutierrez). The two became very close friends and constant companions. Before Enrique left for college, Becky outright confessed his love for Enrique. 

Several years later, when Enrique passed away, he left a will stating that Becky will inherit half of his estate on the condition that he should move into their mansion and be the stepmother of his two sons Nikolai (Enzo Magalona) and Andrew (Arkin Magalona). Nikolai, who now runs the family business, and Enrique's imperious mother Madame Evita (Celia Rodriguez) were dead set on humiliating Becky so that she will just go away.

The trailer alone already tells us that the style of comedy is still the silly florid slapstick style of gay comedy Roderick Paulete had been known to do since the 1980s and 1990s in films like "Kumander Gringa," (1987) or "Bala at Lipistik" (1994). At the turn of the new millennium, his films have been fewer and far between, with "Ded Na Si Lolo" (2009) as his last lead role. Now at 65, Paulate is making a major comeback in the lead role, and title role to boot. 

In the screenplay written by Joni Son Fontanos, the past story was to be told by flashback scenes.  Director Julius Alfonso threw us a hilarious curveball by having the characters of Becky and Enrique be played by Paulate and Gutierrez even in the flashbacks. With ugly mop-like wigs and puffy wrinkly faces, the two were giving it their all playing high school students with gusto, and that in itself was already very funny in all its awkwardness. 

Also quite funny here was that the character of Becky's BFF May Anne (Carmi Martin) was still in her pre-transition stage in the flashbacks, with real name Melancio (Awra Briguela).  The comic chemistry between Paulate and Martin, developed back in the 1980s during their variety show "Tonight with Dick and Carmi," was as strong as ever. The transition from Briguela to Martin was so radically different, that casting decision was comedy genius.

Celia Rodriguez had on her silk head wrap, her fashion signature since she first wore one as Valentina in the "Lipad, Darna, Lipad" (1973). Her wide expressive eyes bordered with heavy mascara were as intimidating and condescending as ever. Paulate had a field day spoofing her flamboyant acting style and outlandish fashion choices right in her presence, so funny. Having classic baddie Odette Khan as Evita's personal maid Badette was another genius casting choice.

While the first two acts of the film was mostly a riot, the third act became one teary, gooey melodrama. We have recently been reminded that Paulate can also do drama in "In His Mother's Eyes" (2023) with Maricel Soriano, and he does a more lighter-hearted version here. Between the Magalona boys, Nikolai was the more complex role, and Elmo had the guts to portray a risky character like this, but his twist only felt contrived. 5/10