REVIEW: My Househusband, Ikaw Na!

DIREK JOSE JAVIER “JOEY” REYES maintains his track record of realist family stories with My Househusband, Ikaw Na! (To be referred to, hereon as MHH) Starring, yet again, the most celebrated showbiz husband&wife of this generation: Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos. To top it all off, this already stellar lead is joined by none other than the Eugene Domingo.

In the story, Rod Alvarez (Ryan Agoncillo) resigned from his company after a disappointing job offer. Mia (Judy Ann Santos) assumes the job of a breadwinner temporarily while Rod looks for work. Reversal of roles happen when it takes Rod too much time to land a job and Mia is promoted from part time insurance agent, to a full time team manager. If that’s not yet enough trouble for Rod’s ego, village neighbors and his wife alike suspect that Aida, their next-door noveau riche neighbor and his newfound best friend, is his “other woman”—since she’s a querida of a much older, married business man.

The Review
If you’ve seen and loved “Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo” and “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo”, you’re sure to love MHH. Direk Joey’s mastery of storytelling is taken to new heights (at least for me, his newest fan) by this film as he mashes up seamlessly the different facets of people’s lives into two hours: a new househusband, a breadwinner wife, the “other woman” friend, not to mention the little side issues in between. If I were to guess these films that he made may not just even be a storytelling, but a venue of his commentary on his real life issues.

Ryan and Judy Ann are perfect for the roles as we see them become the characters of a young, married couple—which they really are. At one point in the film, it felt so real that I wanted to turn my head away from the screen because I am prying in this couple’s moment of intimacy. They were so natural at it, they may not even be acting at all! (That’s probably why neither of them won the major acting awards.)

Of course, I could say nothing but praises for the Eugene Domingo in her portrayal of Aida, the intruding neighbor, the other woman, and a best friend yet again. One thing for sure: when it comes to comedy, Eugene is the sure thing! Because of the years she spent doing funny antics on screen, I’m sure this character posed her no challenge anymore. Which is why she won this year’s Best Supporting Actress at the MMFF’s Gabi ng Parangal. And may I say, she can add a new type of acting in her book—the “Teleserye” acting.

Verdict: 4 out of 5 Save for a few technical issues that I have with the film, this would have been the perfect movie to end my day.

If you’re my type who doesn’t look for special effects or a star-flooded (yes, flooded, not studded) cast in a film, but instead is after a really good story and a hearty laugh, this movie is for you.
Have you seen My Househusband, Ikaw Na!? Share your thoughts with us!