Puto (film)

Puto
Directed byLeroy Salvador
Written byAmado L. Lacuesta Jr.
Produced byRamon Salvador
Starring
CinematographyJoe Batac Jr.
Edited byIke Jarlego Jr.
Music byMon del Rosario
Production
company
Release date
  • November 4, 1987 (1987-11-04)
Running time
97 minutes[1]
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Puto is a 1987 Filipino teen fantasy comedy film directed by Leroy Salvador and starring Herbert Bautista as the titular character, alongside Janno Gibbs, Mia Prats, Dennis Da Silva, Bing Loyzaga, Jigo Garcia, Gelie de Belen, Jayjay Salvador, and Cathy Mora. It is Bautista's first film to feature him in the solo lead role.[2] Produced by Viva Films, the film was released on November 4, 1987, and was a box office success.

Luciano E. Soriano gave the film a mixed review, praising Bautista's performance while having middling feelings about the supporting cast and some gaps in logic.

Plot

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Ivanhoe "Puto" de la Cruz is a young puto vendor who dreams of being with Gina, his classmate at the Andres Bonifacio High School. After accidentally rescuing three little elves (Elvis, Boy George, and Travolta), he is granted a week-long chance to wish for anything he wants.,[3] culminating in the rescue of Gina from a band of kidnappers. Puto's powers expire during a running competition, but he manages to win fair and square, gaining the respect of everyone in school.

Cast

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Release

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Puto was given a "G" rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), which stands for "General Patronage",[4] and was released by Viva Films on November 4, 1987.[5][6] The film was a success at the box office.[2]

Critical response

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Luciano E. Soriano of the Manila Standard gave the film a mixed review, questioning some of the film's gaps in logic such as whether the school attended by Puto, a poor vendor, is public despite the presence of rich students, as well as why the elves need someone to rescue them when they can transform into animals and easily escape. Soriano also wrote that the film's situations "are standard fare among youth-oriented movies", and that the supporting cast were unmemorable in their roles, though he commended Bautista by stating that "it is as clear as daylight that this is Bautista's show all the way."[3]

References

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  1. ^ Puto. OCLC 64040900. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via WorldCat.
  2. ^ a b Medina, Rogelio Constantino (January 27, 1988). "The Artist in Bing Loyzaga". National Midweek. No. 12. Lagda Publishing Inc. p. 34. Retrieved May 10, 2021. She [Bing] recently appeared in Viva Films' Puto, a surprise blockbuster comedy-fantasy starring Herbert Bautista in his first solo lead role.
  3. ^ a b Soriano, Luciano E. (November 20, 1987). "Unfulfilled fantasies". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. p. 10. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  4. ^ "MTRCB Movie Classification Guide for films reviewed 23 Oct. -- 5 Nov. 1987". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. November 9, 1987. p. 14. Retrieved May 10, 2021. The movie is wholesome entertainment for the entire family.
  5. ^ "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. November 4, 1987. p. 11. Retrieved May 10, 2021. AVENUE......................Puto
  6. ^ "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. November 3, 1987. p. 10. Retrieved May 10, 2021. AVENUE................Street Smart
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