Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa kiyeme

Do the fumbling thugs, cheeky melodrama, a song number, and action scenes near the end make a case of a satiric look at Filipino comedy? Or do the idea of big-name actors relegated to cameos playfully allegorize the irony that perpetual sidekick-slash-scene-stealer Eugene Domingo now headlines her own movie? Whatever the case, Joyce Bernal's hilariously animated "Kimmy Dora" -- a spruced-up slapstick touted as the actor's launching pad to lead stardom -- dashes along with the comedic precision that benefits from Domingo's impeccable charm as much as from Bernal's (incidentally a former film editor) comedic rhythm.

Epitomizing the kind of contagious bubbliness that utilizes her talent to the hilt, Domingo plays the double role of twins Kimmy and Dora, which are polar opposites of each other. Kimmy is the cruel genius who runs the family business, while Dora is the tenderhearted dimwit who brought home a stray dog she nearly run over. Events lead to Kimmy being kidnapped and stranded in a remote province, and Dora to impersonating her sister as the head of the company.

Domingo is comically transfixing as the lead of actor Piolo Pascual's second venture in film production, and even if her characters' motivations are frustratingly rudimentary, the film's delirious horseplay whisks much of the screenplay's trivial shortcomings. The running length diffuses some of the humor thin, but it nonetheless provides a smart proof of Domingo's versatility as an actress. Perhaps it's why she easily upstages her co-stars; she can carry a movie by herself. Or make it two of her selves.

This was a big hit in the theaters for the past two weeks already. I was curious because of the good word of mouth. My wife suddenly got the urge to watch it last night. So finally, we got to see this much talked-about big screen debut of TV comic Eugene Domingo as a lead performer, playing both title characters, Kimmy and Dora.

The main story line is quite basic. Kimmy and Dora are twins with sharply contrasting personalities. While Kimmy is smart but heartless, Dora is slow-witted but kind. Kimmy is jealous about the attention Dora gets from their Dad (Ariel Ureta) and the nerdy hunk at work (Dingdong Dantes). Their story escalates to the point where Kimmy gets kidnapped and sent to a remote barrio, and Dora needed to impersonate her sister at work.

This whole movie was really a showcase for the comedic talents of Ms. Eugene Domingo. She had always been a funny presence in the supporting roles she played on TV telenovelas and those Bear Brand commercials. She really went all the way in this her first stab at comedy stardom, no holds barred. As you can deduce from the story, the script provides Ms. Eugene the opportunity to display her entire range as an actress. She plays two totally different characters who both underwent life-changing experiences. She had to play each girl distinctly and I believe she succeeded with flying colors. At the end, you will want to give Ms. Eugene a standing ovation for her bravura performance.

As a movie, there are definitely several LOL moments here. There are also some repetitive and corny moments as can be expected from local comedies. Some character motivations can be so exasperatingly inexplicable, but you can excuse them if you just sit back and have fun, instead of being overly analytical. However, this is definitely above average fare. Yes, it can loud, brash, and coarse at points, but you can feel the love, dedication and hard work devoted to this project.