‘Bekikang’ shines spotlight on unconventional families

PARAS, RODRIGUEZ. Rough around the edges.

There’s nothing purer than a parent’s love—and the fact that this message comes shining through in “Bekikang” makes Wenn Deramas’ latest comedy all the more remarkable—because we could hardly sit through some of the box-office director’s recent films, like the recent “Momzillas,” which demonstrated how outdated the comedic style of Maricel Soriano, ironically the Queen Comic of the ’80s, has become.

Cast in a cameo appearance here as a much-put-upon saleslady, the 48-year-old actress is inexplicably tasked with a dramatic aria that feels tonally out of place.

Fortunately, this scene is one of only a few dampeners in the production’s otherwise eventful series of events—along with the painful-to-watch “Balut” production number that seems to play out forever, which the title character, Bekikang (Joey Paras), “performs” with his kooky bosom buddies, Tomas (Lassy Marquez) and Intoy (Atak Arana), outside Ali Mall.

Inspired by Deramas’ real-life experiences as a gay single parent, “Bekikang: Ang Nanay Kong Beki” tells the story of gender-bending balut vendor, Beki, who falls in love with the “beautiful” but bland Fortunato (Tom Rodriguez) and ends up raising his love child, Potpot (JM Ibañez), with OFW Natalie (Carla Humphries).

Affectionate son

Helping Beki raise his affectionate “son” are his best friend, Samantha (Nikki Valdez), and his swishy “partners in crime,” Tomas and Intoy. Seven years later, his world comes crashing down when the boy’s now well-to-do birth parents come home to get Potpot back. Will Beki lose the only person who genuinely loves him?

For the most part, and despite its occasional narrative implausibilities, Paras’ much-deserved launching movie is a joy to watch, because it shines a spotlight on the plight of unconventional families that can no longer be ignored. After all, love knows no age or gender!

“Bekikang” is rough around the edges, but it proudly wears its heart on its sleeve, so it’s almost impossible not to feel for its beleaguered characters when the bigoted world conspires against them and bullies them into thinking that they don’t deserve as much happiness as those who hew closer to what’s perceived as “conventional.”

Paras makes his mark as he mines the movie’s “relatable” themes convincingly. The theater-honed actor doesn’t merely rely on crowd-rousing antics to win over his viewers—for instance, his character’s urgency is stirringly palpable when an accident puts the life of his young son at risk, and his desolation is deep as he mulls over what he needs to do to keep Potpot safe.

Work in progress

Paras is an exciting work in progress. He still lacks the stellar polish and sleek countenance of comedy’s biggest draws like Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo. But, juggling drama and comedy is by no means easy, and that sets Joey apart from the rest of Tinseltown’s fame-seeking pack!

In a predominantly decorative role, Tom Rodriguez is grossly underutilized—as he was in Alvin Yapan’s otherwise fun-filled (and similarly gay-themed) Quezon City Film Fest entry, “Gaydar.”

Paras gets ample support from his coactors, who turn in winsome portrayals: Valdez is adorable as Beki’s fag-hag BFF, and Arana is just as memorable.

But, it’s the potbellied Lassy Marquez who’s laugh-out-loud hilarious. He makes his one-liners and comic zingers hit their mark even when they don’t make much sense. Now that’s talent!

“Bekikang’ is a different kind of ‘love’ story. If Joey is its soul, the film finds its heart in Beki’s doting dad, Gorio, portrayed to empathetic perfection by Tirso Cruz III—who’s outstanding in another loving-Tatay role a la “Katy!”

Gorio wants his effeminate son to learn karate, not to turn Beki into a he-man, but because he wants Beki to learn how to protect himself when the horrors of discrimination and bullying begin to rear their ugly heads! Sniff.