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Three young men, some years after high school, decide to go to college. Miguel (Mikey
Arroyo), Andres (Andrew E.) and Dominic (Ogie Alcasid) enroll at the Cayetano Curimao College. They meet, gravitate towards each other and become a barkada.
The students here are so dysfunctional that they are bent on fun, kalokohan and everything else except to study.
To offset this situation and to bring about change, Instructor Miss Eula Yulo (Rufa Mae Quinto) suggests that they sponsor a quiz show. She further suggests that Miguel, Andres and Dominic participate in the quiz. Could these three students carry it off and become real role models for their schoolmates?
From the outset, the moviemakers set out to show that viewers should not take the movie
seriously. They should look at the funny happenings and have a good laugh over them.
Thus, don't look for a sensible storyline, nor real acting, adept directing, and such. The advertising blurbs indicate what is expected: "pelikulang malapit sa puso, at
malayo sa utak." Ang school may "B.A. sa kalokohan" at "masters sa katatawanan."
The main cast play their role easily, as usual, while others try a little too hard. Some of the jokes and situations are funny but most are outdated and not really that comical. The toilet humor is too much.
There is nothing to recommend the three young men as role models. They are no different
from the rest of the population. Like the other male students, they are breast-obsessed, easily attracted to the mestiza-type female students and quick to try to get
acquainted with them. Since, Miguel, Andres and Dominic are the bida, they get the desired response. The women students, including Miss Yulo, think nothing of
wearing revealing attire to school. Other value aspects that viewers may take note of are: Whether the contestants can win a quiz contest simply by tsamba?
Is it right for first year college students to make commitments of love, and more of marriage with the girls of such brief acquaintance as the three young men did?
Why is there an inclusion of an insinuated homosexual relationship that does not concern the studentry? A.B. Normal College uses unlikely situations and
exaggerates them for effect. The scenes are absurd, and unbelievable. The movie is a type of comedy known as farce.
Though a farce, with outrageous events to make people laugh, viewers need to still be able to laugh at the really laughable, and see what shouldn't be made fun of and laughed at, but taken seriously.
(Date Reviewed: February 14, 2003)
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