‘Home Along da Riles, Da Reunion’ cast bring nostalgia at advanced screening
It was a nostalgic trip to the 90s when the original cast of the hit TV sitcom “Home Along Da Riles” returned for a reunion movie, this time without the main character, Dolphy, who died in 2012.
Led by Dolphy’s son, Vandolph, the cast attended the advanced screening of “Home Along Da Riles, Da Reunion” at the historic Metropolitan Theater on Monday, sponsored by the city government of Manila as tribute to the King of Comedy, who was originally a resident of Tondo, and started his showbiz career as a stage actor in the theaters of old Manila.
READ: ‘Home Along Da Riles: Da Reunion’ film introduces Vandolph’s son Vito
Aside from Randolph, other cast members who attended the screening are Claudine Barretto, Boy2 Quizon, Gio Alvarez, Maybeline dela Cruz, Dang Cruz, Jenny Salimao-Quizon, Cita Astals, and Nova Villa.
Speaking before the screening, Vandolph said the movie took two and a half years before it finally took shape and finished shooting, thanks to the help of ABS-CBN chief operating officer Cory Vidanes, and producers TJAV Productions Inc. and Riles Production, the production outfit of Boy2, Dolphy’s grandson who also directed the reunion movie.
ABS-CBN currently holds the franchise to “Home Along Da Riles,” having produced the first movie in 1990, and the second installment in 1997. The TV series ran from 1992 to 2003.
“Samahan nyo po kaming ibalik ang ‘Home Along.’ Ito ang kabataan ng 90s, walang swipe-swipe (ng screen). Nagpapasalamat kami sa Diyos sa binigay sa aming lakas sa bawat araw ng shooting na masaya kami dahil pamilya kami dito,” he said.
Vandolph further said it was through their show that he honed his acting chops, learning comedic timing on the knees of his own father, and fellow comedian and cast member Babalu, who had passed on earlier in 1998.
“Sa ‘Home Along’ po ako natuto ng tamang acting. I was 5 or 6 years old. Pinapanood ko lang po ang aking ama kung paano umarte, si Tito Babalu. Parang napakaimportante po ng kailang ginagawa, para sa akin. Sa simpleng pagpapatawa, napapasaya nila ang taongbayan, ang mga manonood,” he said.
“Marami mang kulang — yung aking ama, si Mang Tomas na malamang nagbibilang pa rin ng utang namin, si Tito Babalu, at ang mga Sunog Baga boys — pero sana mapasaya kamo ng handog naming pelikula,” he continued.
INQUIRER.net asked which part of the movie felt most poignant for him, Vandolph said it was the last part, but he stopped short of mentioning it so as not to spoil the film for viewers.
“Di ko pwede ikwento e, baka ma preempt. Eto nalang, pag nagsasama ang Pamilya Cosme, maski nag aaway-way, nanunumbalik sa amin yung mga bilin ni Tatay (Dolphy), so parang yun ang gusto naming pakita sa taumbayan, na kahit anong mangyari, nagsasama lahat kami,” he said.
The story follows Dolphy as Kevin Cosme, a kind and hardworking father of five — Baldo (Vandolph), Estong (Boy2), Bing (Barretto), Bob (Alvarez), and the eldest Bill (Smokey Manaloto) — who faced challenges as a solo parent and breadwinner, but still strive to keep his family loving and happy together even as their house shakes violently whenever a train passes on the nearby railway.
In the reunion movie, the story takes off years after Kevin’s death, and his children try to embody the values that he taught them. The conflict arise as Bing announced her plan to marry her mysterious long-time boyfriend, and her brothers attempted to stop the wedding. Kevin’s love interest Azon (Villa) is saddened by how the children who they have nurtured with care now seemed to have forgotten their values and are now disunited, and entertained visions of him still being alive.
“Home Along Da Riles, Da Reunion” will be shown in cinemas on June 17.
