Hataw tatay hataw

Outdated jokes and unbelievable accent aside, "Hataw Tatay Hataw" is still funny despite being nearly 30 years old.

Being of Filipino descent, I took a chance and watched with my parents this Filipino comedy from 1994 called Hataw tatay hataw. It basically tells the story of a middle-aged bellboy whose long-lost daughter returns from the U.S. to visit her father who disguises himself as the hotel owner to impress her. Along for the ride is hotel coworker Carol and the bellboy's adopted son Boyet. There is a running gag involving a wheelchair bound customer who keeps getting in accidents with the bellboy and his coworkers. Most of the slapstick scenes I found clumsily staged but I give the filmmakers credit for even attempting them. Many familiar American songs like "Top of the World" and "We are the World" are heard in the soundtrack either instrumentally or with Filipino translation. There's also an original musical interlude with the leading ladies that plays like a music video. This was slightly an enjoyable piece of fluff that I may see again.

I maybe biased growing up watching Dolphy... but I've been away for a while... that seeing this movie re awaken my longing for the filipino slapstick. But with the King's and the rest of the cast facial expressions that blend well with the jokes just makes the perfect recipe for this truly enjoyable film.