In 2007, Dante Balboa (Paolo Gumabao) was an up-and-coming actor starring in sexy films produced by Seiko Films with titles like "Karelasyon" and "Kasiping." He had already received an award for his acting for his very first film. He was regularly being interviewed in TV talk shows. He regularly interacted with his fans online on Friendster. One night, while resting in his room after coming home from a guesting in a TV dance show, Dante received a call on his mobile phone from a fan, a lawyer named Rommel (Edward Solon).
This film was basically a performance of the original play first staged just last August, caught on camera -- only one actor in one room for an hour and a half straight. Before we reached the main point of the story, first, we had to endure Dante's preening for his mirror, taking a cold shower, macho dancing, watching TV, chatting with his manager, or shouting to his mother. Several scenes were gratuitously sexualized, a queasy watch, definitely not for everyone. Anyhow, the nostalgic references to 2007 -- the bar phones, Friendster, The Buzz, etc. -- were fun to watch.
Paolo Gumabao was the first actor to play Dante in the stage version, so he should already this part like the back of his hand. But since Dr. Balboa decided to shoot his debut feature in a single long continuous shot, Gumabao also had to get his blockings perfect, especially with his daring scenes. Kudos should also go to Edward Solon, the actor playing Atty. Rommel Gonzaga over the phone, as it was his good-natured and engaging voice that drew Dante in and got his trust. Despite the call being interrupted several times, Dante simply got hooked.
This film began with a disclaimer that any similarities between the characters and events of this film in real life are purely coincidental. However, exactly like the "fictional" Dante, Dr. Dante Balboa (2 PhD degrees -- one in Philippine Literature and one for Tourism and Hospitality) was also actually a professor at FEU in 2007 under his real name Elmer Anisco while also starring in sexy films in the aughts, thus earning him the nickname "The Educated Hunk." We see three movie posters of the real Dante Balboa on the walls of this bedroom.
Because of this association, it would be fair to surmise that this "fictional" experience of Dante could likely be a real-life experience of Dr. Balboa as a young bold actor caught in the glare of the klieg lights, ripe to be victimized by unscrupulous predators. With his script, Balboa was basically criticizing the superficiality and hypocrisy that was rampant in Philippine showbiz, at least during his time at the turn of the millennium. He also took aim at his own foolishness and carelessness in order to give aspiring actors a fair warning about the blinding lure of fame. 4/10
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