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Booba is the first starring role of Rufa Mae Quinto where she plays a simple-minded barrio lass who is more physically endowed than her surly twin sister Ate Gretchen (Ai-Ai delas Alas). In a fit of jealousy Gretchen attempts to kill Booba but fails, prompting their Lola (Gina Pare๑o) to banish her from their home. Before the death of her grandmother, Booba promises to pursue her dreams in the big city and to look for her Ate Gretchen. A series of misadventures in the city leads to
Booba being hired as a police asset where she meets Poli (Gary Estrada), an undercover cop.
After the successful Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw
with Robin Padilla and Regine Velasquez, director Joyce Bernal goes comic in Booba which she directs, edits and co-writes with Mel Mendoza del Rosario. As a sex comedy, there is nothing new in the storyline of the film. In fact, it spoofs the dialogue and actions of some highly successful films and actors. It is silly but some of the punch lines do work. There are many stray shots and one particular scene with a jarring transition. The characters are one-dimensional, the dialogue is inane and the costumes simply stupid. Rufa mae Quinto proves she can be a sexy comedienne on par with Ai-Ai delas Alas, Gina Pare๑o as the sex-starved Lola is over-acting and Gary Estrada is so stiff he barely acts.
The Filipinos' penchant for fun is exploited here to show approval on pre-marital sex,
indiscretion, obscenity, voyeurism, immodesty, suggestive language, promiscuity, frequent and prolonged nudity. In fact, even murder is presented as a laughing matter. This
can be more dangerous than a sex-drama because one is conditioned to approve something which tickles the funny-bone. Woman is stereotyped as dumb, sex-starved and an
attention-seeker. Booba is an insult to the Filipino viewer, both men and women. Don't waste your money on some obscene laughs that leave an unpleasant taste in your
mouth.
(Date Reviewed: January 26, 2001)
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