Review Roundup: I DO BIDOO BIDOO, Starring Sam Concepcion, Tippy dos Santos

Manila, Philippines, September 5, 2012 - Feature film production companies Unitel Productions ("Crying Ladies"), Studio 5 ("Rosario"), multi-award winning screenwriter, film director Chris Martinez ("The Woman in the Septic Tank," "100"), and prolific stage, television, and film music composer, arranger Vincent De Jesus ("Care Divas," "Crying Ladies") join forces to create the groundbreaking movie musical "I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila," which explores four interwoven love stories inspired by 17 songs popularized by the APO Hiking Society, a trio made up of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) luminaries Jim Paredes, Boboy Garovillo, and Danny Javier.

"I Do Bidoo Bidoo" stars Sam Concepcion, Tippy Dos Santos, Eugene Domingo, Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Jaime Fabregas, Neil Coleta, Frenchie Dy, Kiray Celis, Sweet Plantado, Gerald Pesigan, John Mark Ibanez, and Ishmael Alsdefat. 

Graded "A" by the Cinema Evaluation Board, the movie musical, now running in its second week, continues to charm Filipino filmgoers and most film critics.  Read some of the review excerpts below:

Job B. De Leon, GMA News: Right from the opening credits, the film endears itself with scenic views of the heart of Manila. No matter how much one dreads coming down to its streets–from hawkers to her congested roads–the film warms one up to its consistent, idealized feel…

"I Do Bidoo Bidoo" has an actual story to move the plot along. It's quite refreshing to see a studio-produced local film that doesn't rely on the tired comedy tropes. Though if you're looking for them, the film features unflappable kumares in Sweet Plantado and Frenchie Dy, and a bibo child sidekick in Gerald Pesigan. But they're written in just right, not overpowering the narrative and are given equal opportunity to tease a smile from the viewers.

While the movie banks heavily on box-office hitmakers, its performing ensemble leaves something to be desired. That the world can suddenly break out into beautifully choreographed music video is one of the pillars of a musical, and some of the performances in "I Do Bidoo Bidoo" aren't quite there. At times, people in the background feel like fellow audience members instead of performers in a grand spectacle.

Mark Angelo Ching, Pep.Ph: While the story may be common, the way the film approaches it is not. Well-choreographed musical numbers help the film feel fresh, and the decision to use songs from the APO Hiking Society hike the nostalgia…

It is a great decision to cast actors who are actual singers. Leads Sam Concepcion and Tippy Dos Santos are brimming with talent, and their skills are maximized in their production numbers.

The rest of the cast are just as perfect. There could be no better actors to play their parents than Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, and Zsa Zsa Padilla, three of the country's top performers. Eugene Domingo is the only non-singer in the cast, but her commendable acting chops and box-office draw Make Up For this fact.

One negative factor that can be said is that the ending feels abrupt, because no solid build-up transitions to it.

Jude Cartalaba, BroadwayWorld.com: Despite the local film's likeliness to the main themes of the stage musical-turned-movie musical "Mamma Mia!" "I Do Bidoo Bidoo" has its own strengths; and it has lived up to whatever it was hyped up to be by its drumbeaters.

Oliver is about to earn his M.S. degree in public relations and corporate communication from New York University while serving as regional editor for BroadwayWorld.com. Over the past 18 years, Oliver has been handling public relations and corporate communication for numerous brands (including Pepsi), Broadway shows, Broadway stars, non-profit organizations, and mainstream celebrities. He also teaches public relations at De La Salle University-Manila. Follow Oliver on Twitter: @OliverOliveros

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