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REVIEW: Seven Sundays features strong performances from its lead actors

Star Cinema's family drama Seven Sundays is hardly original in subject matter and treatment, but it is bound to resonate with moviegoers.

Anybody who has suffered estrangement from family will find himself drawn to this movie directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.

Aging barangay captain Manuel Bonifacio (Ronaldo Valdez) is told on his birthday that he is suffering from lung cancer and has only seven weeks to live, prompting his four adult children to make room in their busy lives so their father can spend his remaining Sundays with them.

In these supposed last weeks of togetherness, the family members awkwardly and painstakingly try to create a semblance of normalcy, but unresolved issues and hidden trouble threaten to shatter their already fragile dynamics. Enrique Gil, Cristine Reyes, Dingdong Dantes, and Aga Muhlach bring life to the Bonifacio siblings who try to reconnect with each other amidst this family crisis.

THE GOOD. As with most family dramas, Seven Sundays centers on a dysfunctional family, which makes the plot all too predictable.

In an effort to perhaps differentiate itself, the story unfolds in a way that tugs at ones’ heartstrings.

It succeeds, thanks largely to the fantastic acting and the script’s reflection of universal family issues as well as those that are unique to Filipino families such as parental absence due to overseas work.

Star Cinema assembled a powerhouse cast that meshes so well, it feels like a real model for a not-so-normal family.

Ronaldo Valdez plays Manuel with substance, befitting a father trying to assert his authority while attempting to get his estranged children to spend more time with him in his twilight years. Even when it all blows up in his face, he keeps a delicate balance between parental pride and regret.

Matching him in terms of screen presence are Aga Muhlach as Allan, the eldest of his children, and Dingdong Dantes as Brian, the more successful second child. Aga has finally surrendered to roles that capitalize more on his acting ability rather than good looks, disappearing behind the character of a middle-aged father struggling to provide for his family while secretly jealous of his younger brother’s success.

Dingdong delivers an earnest performance as a well-meaning but under-appreciated family member struggling to prove his worth to his family.

Cristine Reyes, meanwhile, sheds her sexy image for her role as middle child Cha, who hides her personal troubles for fear of rebuke.

Enrique Gil, as the younger son Dex, is adorable as he feigns indifference, touching the hearts of moviegoers with his fragility. This film features strong performances from the cast members, but they can only do so much when the story falls into the trap of conventional dramas.

THE BAD. Seven Sundays falters because of the perpetual need to wrap things up cleanly and amicably in an effort to reinforce moral values or provide an emotional cleansing for the audience.

However, doing so leaves the film with a clumsy ending, undoing the skillful unfurling of its dramatic sequences.

There is a dance showdown in the end, which is hilarious but is farcical at its best and is entirely unnecessary. THE WORTHY. Still, the film gets a breath of fresh air from its male leads, who throw more drama than the women.

For a change, men here are portrayed as sensitive family members, unlike your typical indifferent brother or son more often seen in other family drama films.

See Seven Sundays with your siblings if you dare—you just might find yourself in the shoes of one if its characters. Seven Sundays is graded A by the Cinema Evaluation Board.

Ed's Note: The "PEP Review" section carries the views of individual reviewers, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the PEP editorial team.

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Malayang Lakambini

What is life without a little risk

Seven Sundays: A movie review

My brother asked me to make a movie review for “Seven Sundays” a film by Cathy Garcia-Molina. It’s actually not a timely review. But since it’s one of my favorite family movie, I’ll be posting this anyways. The review is written in Tagalog. 

SEVEN SUNDAYS

Mula kina Popoy at Basha ng “One More Chance”, Cali at Gio ng “My Ex and Why’s”, at  Kenji at Athena ng “She’s Dating the Gangster”. Paulit-ulit tayong sinaktan, pinaluha at muling pinaniwala sa pag-ibig ni Cathy Garcia-Molina sa bawat pelikulang kanyang ginawa. Mula sa mga tumatak ng linya ng mga karakter hanggang sa mga makabasag pusong eksena sa bawat pelikula nya. Eton a ata ang nagging tatak ni Direk Cathy sa ating mga Pilipino. Ngunit muli tayong pinaluha at pinangiti ni Direk sa kanyang pelikulang “Seven Sundays” na taliwas sa mga nakagawian nating pelikula nya.  Tumatalakay ito sa relasyon ng magkakapatid sa kanilang Ama at relasyon nila sa isa’t isa.

Kapwa abala sa kanikanilang buhay ang magkakapatid na Bonifacio kaya hindi na nila nadadalw ang kanilang ama na ginampanan ni Ronaldo Valdez. Ngunit nagkasama-sama ulit ang apat na magkakapatid ng malaman nilang malapit ng mamatay ang kanilang ama dahil sa sakit nitong kanser. Napagdesisyunan nilang magkita-kita tuwing lingo para mapagbigyan ang hiling ng kanilang ama at para mapasaya na rin ito. Sa muli nilang pagsasama sa ay mauungat ang ilang nakaraang hidwaan at hindi pagkakaunawaan . Nasasalamin ditto ang iba’t iang mukha ng magkkapatid. Si Allan na ginampanan ni Agah Mulach ang panganay sa magkakapatid. Bilang panganay ay sa kanya iniwan ang negosyo. BIlang isa padre de pamilia sa kanyang sariling pamilya ay may mga pagkakataon na nagigipit sa pananalapi si Allan. Ngunit bilang panganay sa magkakapatid ay ayaw nyang humingi ng tulong sa mga kapatid nya. Lalo na kay Bryan na ginbampanan naman ni Dingdong Dantes. Isang successful businessmen at walang pamilya. Trabaho, trabaho, trabaho. Yan ang pagkakakilala nila sa kapatid nilang si Bryan. Siya rin ang pinaka nakakaangat sa buhay sa kanilang magkakapatid. Si Cha na ginampanan ni Christie Reyes ang nagiisang babae sa kanilang magkakapatid. May sarili na ring pamilya si Cha ngunit lingid sa kaalaman ng kanyang mga kapatid ay matagal na silang may problema ng kanyang asawa na ginampanan ni Kean Cipriano. Alam niyang may ibang babae ang asawa niya pero hindi nya ito magawang hiwalayan dahil sa kanilang mga anak. At ang bunso na si Dex na ginampanan ni Enrique Gil. Lumaki syang madalas mag-isa mula ng mamatay ang kanilang ina. At dahil nga sa layo ng edad niya sa mga kapatid ay nagkaroon siya ng distansya sa mga ito.

Ang dapat masaya nilang reunion ang magiging masakit dahil sa pagkakaungkat ng mga nakaraang hinanakit sa isa’t isa. Mga Sama ng loob na hindi magawang sabihin noon. Sa bawat linggong nagkikita-kita sila ang lalong lumalalim ang mga hidwaan at sakit na nararamdaman para sa isa’t isa. Pero sa huli, silang magkakapatid din ang magtutulungan at magdadamayan.

Magaling ang pagkakalinya ng mga karakter sa kwento at ang mga gumanap na artista. Lalong nabigyan ng buhay ang kwento dahil sa galling na ipinakita ng mga gumanap. Mapapansin na mula sa iba’t ibang henerasyon ang mga gumanap na artista. Pero dahil ditto ay mas lalong nabigyan ng kulay at puso ang bawat karakter na ginampanan nila.

Makabagbag damdamin. Nakakaiyak. Ito ang tipo ng pelikula na gugustuhin mong umuwi sa bahay niyo at maramdaman ulit ang saya ng pagkakaroon ng pamilya. Tagos sa puso ang bawat tagpo at bawat linya. Dinagdagan pa ng kantang “Batang bat aka pa” ang lungkiot at saying mararamdaman mo habang pinapanuod ang pelikulang ito. KAhit ang mga lugar na pinili para sa bawat eksena at patok na patok sa kwento. Simple pero may kwento.

Pasok sa panlasa ng mga Pilipino ang ganitong klase ng pelikula. Tungkol sa pamilya, pagpapatawad at pagmamahal. Ipinapaalala nito ang kahalagahan ng pammilya na kahit anong mangyari, andiyan ang pamilya mo para sumuporta sayo sa lahat ng pagkakataon.

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Makata at Manunulat Isang lakambining pilit lumalaya sa mgarehas na binuo ng tadhana at ng sarili niyang luha. View all posts by M A R Y A

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A Perfectly Imperfect Family: Film Review on Seven Sundays

A PERFECTLY IMPERFECT FAMILY FILM REVIEW ON SEVEN SUNDAYS

By Meanne M. Mijares

SEVEN SUNDAYS

Starring Ronaldo Valdez (Manuel Bonifacio), Enrique Gil (Dex), Cristine Reyes (Cha), Dingdong Dantes (Bryan) and Aga Muhlach (Allan)

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina

Produced by Star Cinema

I am fond of good and heartwarming stories about family-whether in book form, theatrical adaptations, musicals and films. One of my favorite past times is watching quality films and Seven Sundays is certainly one of them for it delves deeper connections that are opulently gratifying and fulfilling. I was excited because the movie trailer immediately got my attention with the all-star grouping of actors with fine histrionic chops that were gathered for this film project. No actor upstages his fellow actors in here, they had their own defining and shining moments in the film. Now that I have already seen the movie, I am giving full positive credit to the director and scriptwriter for this exceptional, intensely motivated masterpiece forming results that really made this film even more unique than it already was on a fat gray matter.

Since we Filipinos are family oriented, the story tugs right at the heart strings because it is about love in the family. It is about Manuel, a father who is dying of lung cancer and asks his four children to spend seven Sundays with him before passing on. The four Bonifacio siblings Allan, Bryan, Cha and Dex with families of their own and leading and living their own lives, come together to spend seven Sundays with their beloved patriarch and tried their best to set aside their issues and differences with each other.

But as the story went along, they were able to patch things up for real as they help support one another’s problems most especially when the father bridges the gap between Allan and Bryan to save the family store from financial breakdown and restore to the grandeur that it was to keep the legacy alive and relevant to the times. What the head of family said struck me: “Gusto kong nagtutulungan kayong magkakapatid.”

The exchange of dialogue in every scene was filled with true to life emotionally charged statements and sentiments interwoven through the various stories (or subplots) of the film’s lead protagonists.

This one said by Allan in one scene with his eldest son, Marc is my favorite:

Allan: “Kung naging mabuting kuya ako sa mga kapatid ko, hindi sana ito nangyayari.”

Marc: “Pero Dad, hindi pa naman huli para makabawi kayo sa kanila, diba?”

Allan: “Oo naman.”

We all have families, which is why the story connects and resonates very well with the movie goers. It is rich in experiences that the major characters went through and able to resolve them that somewhat inspires people that no one is alone or left behind because they have a family to back them up. In a world that is complex and broken, you have no one but God through your family. That is why God created families. He is a part of a Family, the Holy Trinity the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Virgin Mary with her spouse Saint Joseph.

The family has such power because it is bonded by love, and this is why the family accepts and forgives many times and stands through the test of time. It just came to me that maybe the film’s title is Seven Sundays, reminds me of the Lord’s answer to Saint Peter’s question on how to forgive, which is, seventy times seven times. Without it, there would be no healing. The family may be tried and tested in rough and turbulent waters but will remain strong and united as they face it together head on, game on.

Since members of the family have different quirks and personalities, it still manages to reach out to one another to co-exist peacefully and harmoniously despite being imperfect but that is what makes families special because those imperfections and frivolities are the ones that endear themselves to one another, to help, empower, respect and support each other. Sometimes we need to disconnect in order to reconnect and rebuild family ties and come out stronger because of it. The film proves this saying: Ang magkapatid, magaway at magkagalit man magkakabati at magkakampi pa rin sa bandang huli . No one can ever take that away!

The films aptly states that love is spelled as T-I-M-E. Quality time well spent with one another! One of the scenes I find very touching is that when they all headed to the beach and read letters addressed to the patriarch, those that he had not read because he was away from them at the time all tucked inside a large biscuit tin can. I like this scene a lot because it is a bonding activity that is worth doing to forge stronger family ties and connections that are gratifying. I like the balance of the use of social media here as well. Not all too far or too near.

We need not wait for a tragedy or death to happen to be united through force or love or get our act together. The best time is always N-O-W! This film will make you go hug and kiss your loved ones and say I love you to them in our own special way, every day.

What I like about this film is the “ bali ” to it. Typical of a Filipino film, I suppose. It shows that we are a happy and resilient people. Its final scene at the ABCD’s Family Store, sees a complete chunky unwieldy dance showdown between the Bonifacio family and Mr. Kim with his cohorts, made me felt uneasy and uncomfortable given the intensity of drama prior to it but I presume it is there to end the story on a positive note.

Quoting the patriarch in the film, I rate it as ALL GOOD!

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Seven Sundays

Four estranged siblings are asked by their dying father to get together for seven Sundays, forcing them to confront their issues.

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‘Seven Sundays’ review: Well-acted but frustratingly conventional

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Cathy Garcia-Molina’s Seven Sundays , about a lonely father who is told by his doctor that he only has 7 weeks to live, prompting his 4 busy adult children to spend his last remaining Sundays together with him, is crafted exactly to be amiable. Its main conceit, while lacking any real sense of originality, paves the way for scenes that celebrate family values.

The overall effect is pleasant at best, and at worst, more than just a tad patronizing.

A lot to like

For sure, there’s a lot to like about the film.

There’s the generally fine performances, led by Ronaldo Valdez, who plays the family patriarch with equal amounts of levity and heft. Partnered most of the time by reliable Ketchup Eusebio, who plays the nephew who has supplanted his own children as his trusted companion, Valdez is an endearing and enduring presence amidst the film flip-flopping between its comedic and dramatic moments.

Aga Muhlach, whose last films had him desperately clinging for his fading youth to play starry-eyed hopeless romantics, finally succumbs to portraying a man whose best years are behind him and whose good looks will do nothing to get him out of his streak of bad luck. Also spared from being tied to a romantic subplot, Dingdong Dantes , who plays the more successful second son, is able to deliver a performance that pulsates with affecting earnestness.

Then there’s Seven Sundays ’ meticulous understanding of the peculiarities of the Filipino family. While the sentiment of the film is universal, its approach is clearly culturally specific, dwelling not on broad issues and conflicts but simmering attitudes that a social climate of surface-level nicety to the detriment of sincerity affords. (READ:  Stars of ‘Seven Sundays’ reflect on family issues )

Hardly unique, feels like a rehash

This brings me to the many problems of Garcia-Molina’s film.

In 2013, Garcia-Molina directed Four Sisters and a Wedding , which also featured siblings whose sudden reunion serves as the impetus for them to air repressed grievances. In 2000, Rory B. Quintos directed Anak which again centers on a reunion that reveals a family’s dysfunction. In the same year, Laurice Guillen directed Tanging Yaman which is also about a reunion that has siblings squabbling over their inheritance while the family matriarch is wasting away.

In a marketplace that is mostly crowded by repetitive romances, Seven Sundays feels like a very welcome gush of fresh air.  

However, the film itself is hardly unique. In fact, it feels like a rehash with its persistent allegiance to formula. Its plot is very predictable. Even its dramatic climax, where each and every character suddenly bursts under the weight of their suppressed emotions, no longer comes as a surprise because each and every one of the films that came before it also featured the same explosive highlight.

Outdo its predecessors

It would have been all good if Seven Sundays only had the ambition to outdo its predecessors, or at the very least subvert them.

Sadly, the film feels like a limper version. It lacks energy and there are portions in the film that it just plods along under the weight of exposition and heavy-handed dialogue.

The film’s most notable deviation is that it focuses on the men of the family and their various insecurities. However, Garcia-Molina and the film’s team of screenwriters evade tackling the plot with an interesting gender-specific perspective, seemingly satisfied in just churning out a conventional family-oriented tearjerker instead. – Rappler.com

F rancis Joseph Cruz litigates for a living and writes about cinema for fun. The first Filipino movie he saw in the theaters was Carlo J. Caparas’ ‘Tirad Pass.’ Since then, he’s been on a mission to find better memories with Philippine cinema.  

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Movie review: Brilliant casting lifts 'Seven Sundays' | ABS-CBN News

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Movie review: brilliant casting lifts 'seven sundays'.

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REVIEW: Jerald Napoles proves comedic genius in ‘Pagpag 24/7’

We first see main characters Mitoy and Boying (Jerald Napoles and Nicco Manalo) sitting on a sidewalk curb, mulling over their planned robbery of a convenience store called Mang Kanor. 

The letters of the signage flicker under the night sky exploding with intermittent thunder. The letters K and R are busted. 

We immediately understand that Napoles' Mitoy is the dull friend, reading the store name as "Mang Ano." And as the duo plan their pilfering, the comedy becomes increasingly funny.

Napoles, who has proven for so long his impressive comedic range that extends beyond slapstick comedy, is complemented by the effortless and naturalistic Manalo. It's fun watching and listening to the two in their verbal jousts, delivering candid, authentic, snappy dialogue. 

This is what makes  Pagpag 24/7 — Viva Films' latest offering from its factory of surplus B-movie theatrical releases — actually funny. First-time director JR Reyes cleverly capitalizes on Napoles and Manalo's natural rapport and gift of gab. 

The humor switches between corny and laugh-out-loud, but more so the latter, with the script's unpredictable punchlines and one-liners that are often refreshingly wholesome. 

The plot itself is nearly nondescript. It centers on best friends Mitoy and Boying who reunite years later after getting separated from that botched nighttime robbery of the Mang Kanor store. Their newfound (and still bruised) friendship, however, is made complicated by their encounter with spirits of the dead. Yes, this is a horror-comedy.

The title refers to a Filipino superstitious belief. It's the ridiculous tradition of making a pit stop before going home after a wake to shake off the spirit of the dead and prevent them from following you to your home. 

In the movie, the Mang Kanor store is frequently used as a pit stop for pagpag , until it eventually became a 24-7 convenience store hilariously called Heaven Eleven — home to a bunch of angry ghosts shaken off or abandoned by their loved ones. 

Mitoy and Boying find themselves working together in the nearby funeral parlor called Libing Legend (yes, they do know how to use puns). They have a dead-looking manager who has a blind assistant/best friend (Star Orjaliza), who is tasked with physical comedy. 

While Mitoy plays safe with superstitions, Boying is a cynic. Strangely, Napoles' character starts off as an idiot but inconsistently ends up as the more intelligent of the two for not being superstitious. 

The narrative is more interested in comedy than horror. Nothing in the movie delivers tension, scary thrill, or fun-scares. It feels like a straight comedy — but is burdened to fulfill the obligatory horror side, which is dragging and uninspired.

The abandoned ghosts trapped in the convenience store are underused and serve as mere props. Sadly, Nikko Natividad's obnoxious character is cringe-y — the forced character feels like a sore thumb. 

It's truly the comedy that propels  Pagpag 24/7 . You could imagine the writers of the movie laughing out loud while penning the script. That's the thing — Pagpag 24/7 does not take itself too seriously, hence the humor feels easy. It's unpretentious and does not try to be more than its flimsy script. It's enjoying itself — flaws and all — for the heck of it. 

Reyes also enhances the scenes with his dynamic camerawork, while also making sure that his supporting cast is committed to their characters. 

Danita Paner as Mitoy's love interest is perhaps Viva Films' most versatile actress. From her dramatic take in the cloying  Instant Daddy  to her comedic role here as a random pretty lady with a poop-streaked face, she is a natural. 

While  Pagpag 24/7  is just another one of Viva Films' low-budget popcorn movies, it stands out for delivering easy laughs, buoyed by its gifted lead actors, particularly Napoles.  

This is not a movie to be educated on the origins and other Wikipedia information on the superstitious belief of  pagpag , or a deep examination of its cultural impact. The movie's objective is pretty clear: to just give you a silly good time at the cinemas.  

3 out of 5 stars

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