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Fantastica is a 2018 Filipino fantasy comedy film directed by Barry Gonzales. It stars an ensemble cast including Vice Ganda, Bela Padilla, Richard Gutierrez, Jaclyn Jose, and Dingdong Dantes. Produced by Star Cinema and Viva Films, the film serves as an official entry to the 2018 Metro Manila Film Festival.[1] The film was released on December 25, 2018. It received mixed reviews from critics, praising the film's special effects but criticizing the lack of character development and some of the comedic scenes.[2]
| Fantastica | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Barry Gonzalez |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Anne Monzon |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Emerzon Texon |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino |
| Box office | ₱596 million |
This also marked the last film appearance of comedian Chokoleit, who died after suffering a fatal heart attack in Bangued, Abra on March 9, 2019, at the age of 48.[3]
Plot
editKleia Blythe, the proprietor of a struggling carnival named Perya Wurtzbach (a pun on Pia Wurtzbach), is tasked by a princess Sxia Blythe to find three princesses of the knight's land Fantastica. The princesses was warped to Earth separately, where the carnival’s crew must track them down to help save Fantastica, but eventually live regular lives there. But an evil spreads on Fantastica, and his rival Hannah Velax is on their throats. The mission's cover is to revive the carnival to lure the princesses.
Cast
editMain cast
edit- Vice Ganda as Belat Padilla / Princess Drilon[4]
- Richard Gutierrez as Prince Pryce
- Dingdong Dantes as Dong Nam
Supporting cast
edit- Bela Padilla as Fairy Godmother
- Jaclyn Jose† as Perfecta "Fec" Padilla
- Maymay Entrata as Princess Maulani
- Edward Barber as Junjun Padilla
- Loisa Andalio as Princess Rapunselya
- Ronnie Alonte as Daks Padilla
- Kisses Delavin as Princess Ariella
- Donny Pangilinan as Pepe Padilla
- Ryan Bang as Gang Nam
- Milo as Boylet
Extended cast
edit- MC Calaquian as Chubbylyn Jose
- Lassy Marquez as Chakalyn Jose
- Chokoleit† as Princess Beauty
- Johnny Revilla as King Amarillo / King Ama
- Angelika Mapanganib as Angry Bird
- Joven Olvido
Special participation
edit- Marian Rivera-Dantes (cameo appearance)
- Sarah Lahbati (cameo appearance)
- Zion Gutierrez as Boylet in human form
- Jackque Gonzaga as Ate Girl
- Gus Abelgas as the voice of the Fairy Godmother
- Joshua Colet as young Prince Amarillo
- Kira Balinger as young Fec
- Marigona Dona Dragusha
- Mary Jean Lastimosa
- Atty. Jose Sison
- El Gamma Penumbra
Reception
editCritical response
editFantastica was released to mixed reviews from critics. Zsarlene B. Chua of BusinessWorld praised the opening sequence by El Gamma Penumbra, fourth wall-breaking jokes and the film's parodies of various drama films, but viewed Vice's continued reliance on insult comedy and innuendos as stale and repetitive, saying "The movie's premise and sheer starpower guarantee the film will be a blockbuster, but if you're expecting something new from Mr. Viceral's yearly MMFF entry, you're bound to be disappointed as it is more of the same: innuendos (which makes one question why it's rated PG) and his usual insult comedy." She did however conclude that "it's a feel-good if mind-numbing film for people who want to shut down and get a few laughs here and there."[5]
John Magbanua of Bandera also gave the film a mixed review, praising the film's special effects and romantic pairings but was critical of the formulaic production and what he noted as censorship done presumably to make the film more family-friendly. Magbanua also noted that Fantastica could have incorporated more carnival elements to further justify the film's narrative.[2]
Box office
editIt was announced by Star Cinema in a thanksgiving dinner organized for Fantastica, that the film became the highest grossing MMFF film which starred Vice Ganda. Fantastica earned ₱596 million with the figure including earnings from both domestic and international release of the film.[6]
References
edit- ^ "MMFF announces first 4 movies for 2018 film festival". Rappler. August 2, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
- ^ a b Magbanua, Djan (December 27, 2018). "MMFF MOVIE REVIEW: Is 'Fantastica' really fantastic?". bandera.inquirer.net.
- ^ "Comedian Chokoleit dies". ABS-CBN Corporation News. March 10, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
- ^ Tabora, Regina (June 29, 2018). "Vice Ganda, pasok na sa MMFF 2018!". Retrieved December 26, 2018.
- ^ Charm, Neil (December 27, 2018). "An all-star cast in a film on the same old things | BusinessWorld". BusinessWorld.
- ^ Dumaual, Miguel (January 30, 2019). "'Fantastica' ends run as Vice Ganda's highest-grossing MMFF movie". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
External links
edit- Fantastica at IMDb