OVERTIME - My personal review
Was it worth my P185.00? YES!
Why? Because of 2 things: (1) To show my support to my brod Earl Ignacio (co-director); and (2) first-ever Tagalog-movie date with my ex-girlfriend - Caroline.
Entertainment-wise, was it worth watching? OF COURSE!
Why? It's a movie. Its purpose is to entertain regardless.
Quality-wise, was it worth my time? See previous answers.
Realistically, was it really worth it? Let's put it this way... We "reasonable" Filipino movie goers tend to watch foreign movies than locals for one reason alone - local movies are not worth our money & time! Now, if we do find time to watch one, we tend to look for the many things that would convince us that this movie is not worth-watching.
Overtime's storyline (based on the trailer) is inviting. One of terrorism, thriller, mystery & suspense. Not to mention good-looking lead actors: Richard Gutierrez & Lauren Young. It became more exciting when the plot is unveiled in the movie itself.
A former IT employee ( Dom Garcia -- played by Richard) discovered that the pharmaceutical company he's working with illegally tests their drugs on children that caused several deaths. He tried to send his videos of his discovery online but was discovered by the company. He was bribed & later on "killed" by the thugs of the company. He befriended Jody (played by Lauren Young) & later on kidnapped her, strapped a bomb on her with the threat to detonate the bomb on the company's press con. The press con is expected to be attended by all of the company's VIPs, benefactors & the who's who in the media. If Jody failed to do this, Dom kill her brother (played by Renz Valerio) whom he also kidnapped.
Interesting, right?
But as I said, we watch out for the things that are not right on a Filipino movie. They are always there!
Enter, Mitch Valdez, (Lola Vi) a recently retired police woman who could not let go of her job. Her house was beside the hide out of Dom. She witnessed Dom drag a body (apparently, Jody's brother) inside the house. She tried calling her police chief but he did not believe him thinking she was being paranoid. Employing the help of a petty car thief (played by Roadfill), she entered the hideout alone. But was later on caught by Dom.
Bearwin Meilley played Raffy, an IT expert who had a crush with Jody. He traced the signal of Dom's calls to Jody with the help of their super computer, SHEILA. He volunteered to go to the hideout and later on confronted Dom. They figured in a mano-y-mano. Exciting!
Making the long story short, with the help of Raffy and Lola Vi the bomb strapped on Jody's body did not explode! The brother of Jody was saved. The CEO of the company showed his guilt in public & was later on killed. After what he has done, Dom was not captured. The ending seems to say that "watch out, we have a sequel!"
Storyline: Pwede na!
Actors/actresses: Seems like Richard Gutierrez is better off in a love story kilig stuff kind of movies. I don't think he is credible as a psycho-vigilante-terrorist character in this movie.
Lauren Young is to clean to play a secretary terrorized by a psycho-vigilante & by her maniac-looking boss played by Roi Vinzon. And by the way, I don't think a reasonable pretty professional woman would go out and have a one-nighter with a stranger. No alcholic drinks or drugs involved. Well, that's pretty-boy Richard Gutierrez in front of you. Maybe there are girls like that in the real world.
Mitch Valdez portrayed a recently retired police woman that looked like she should have retired years ago. In the early 2000s, I lectured old ladies at the DND some computer basics like typing and using Word & Excel. That was 14 years ago. What is the retiring age of a police officer? And what the hell was she thinking when she pointed a gun at Richard & Bearwin when Bearwin is infront of her during that mano-y-mano fight? Even instinct would tell me not to pull the trigger coz I might hit the hostage! Which she did. Sapul ang Bearwin.
Other Questionable scenes:
(1) Sprawled almost half-naked (she was on her skirt and bra) on the floor, the Bomb Squad guy was not properly dressed (well, we don't have those stuff they wore in the movie - The Hurt Locker, anyways). The other team members was even less than 10 meters away from the bomb strapped in Jody's body. Bahala ng ma-bomba basta makita lang ang bombang katawan ni Jody.
(2) After the bomb failed to explode, CEO Mr. Alonzo (Roi Vinzon) came to Jody & asked him about the tape. He then pulled a gun & grabbed Jody by the neck. Hostage taking part 2. As a multi-millionaire CEO with illegal pharmaceutical dealings, he should have resources in his disposal to coerce Jody to give him the evidence. But what he did was take Jody hostage in full view of the SWAT team. Logical?
(3) Jody replaced the tape (evidence). Dom played it in public but what appeared was the company Christmas party were Raffy was dancing to the delight of his officemates. But before that party scene, a man in masked (presumably Dom) was seen introducing the supposed to be evidence of the crimes of the pharmaceutical company and Mr. Alonzo. May time pa si Jody mag-edit ng tape? Galing.
Overtime is not the perfect feel good movie but I watched it anyways. I will continue to do the same to support my brod, Earl, & all my other fraternity brothers & sisters in the sorority who have projects and events like this or otherwise.
Do not buy (local) pirated DVDs!
