“DREAM DAD.” Gleefully escapist denouement.
Last April 17, the popular teleserye, “Dream Dad,” finally wound up its storytelling—not with a bang, but with a slow, warm, hugging, loving simper.
Unlike other concluding shows that pile on crises and dire threats of danger and death for maximum effect, it chose to play it warm and winsome to the very end. That choice could have been just fine for some viewers, because it was quite in keeping with the series’ escapist and extremely optimistic view of life with a perfect employer, lover and adoptive father.
However, we found it too pluperfectly idealized, with life’s problems and conflicts too easily and breezily “solved” just because its male protagonist was such a paragon of looks, wealth and virtue that he could do no wrong.
The gleefully escapist denouement made the series’ final telecast more tepid than thrilling, with many minutes used up by Zanjoe Marudo to poetically express his love and pledge his troth to Beauty Gonzales—who had her own rapt encomiums to breathlessly intone.
In addition, they also had to make the show’s resident moppet, Jana Agoncillo’s character, Baby, feel completely and absolutely loved and adored—no adoptive child could ever ask for more!
As if this fervent exchange of heartfelt assurances wasn’t enough, the show also had to find time to make Baby’s real mother, played by Yen Santos, feel that she was going to be a welcome and even cherished part of their expanded family.
—So, when everything was said and done, there was no more time for more essential plot and theme wrapups. (Just wait for the sequel, OK?)
Determination
One thing we did like: Up to the very end, the show sustained its admirable determination to make Baby speak like a little child, unlike the kids in most other TV dramas, who talk a blue streak and are too “wise” to be believed!
In addition, we should note that the success of “Dream Dad” adds a colorful feather to Zanjoe’s stellar cap. And that the show has a major juvenile discovery in Jana, who has become so popular that she’s reported to be following up with her first lead role in a movie this year.
Less amazingly, the series has made a lead player of Beauty, whose stellar prospects are hampered by her occasionally “simpering” style of acting.
Yen does better as Baby’s birth mother, but we should point out that she came on even stronger in “Pure Love,” so she needs to get back to more focused thespic mode.
That goes double for Matt Evans, who played Beauty’s other suitor much too predictably. Even more than Yen, he needs to reassess his development as an actor, which has tended to be lacking in surprise and creativity.
Finally, we know that escapist and idealized dramas like “Be Careful with My Heart” click with viewers, but we hope against hope that our teleserye can help viewers learn how to confront and deal with reality—rather than dreamily and slap-happily running away from it!