INDAK: Promising

01.19.2020

Rating:

7.5/10

"Ang daan sa tagumpay ay laging hindi tapos. Parang lagi kang may inaayos..."

If you are expecting a Step Up movie dance routines while the movie progresses, then this will definitely disappoint, except from the finale dance of course. But the best thing about the film is, you will surely value the story that was presented more than the dance moves.

It was a sunny afternoon when I decided to watch Paul Alexei Basinillo's "INDAK". The boredom that I'm feeling that time was tripled in the first 5 minutes of the film. Good that I have the option to fast forward everything. I really felt that it was a time wasted as it slowed the whole thing especially for a viewer who's excitement is over-the-top at the start of a dance movie. But everything started to heat up when Jen (Nadine Lustre) showed off in the middle of the ocean. From then on, I was hooked.

The fact that the main protagonist is an island girl from Bantayan, Cebu managed to keep me interested and continue watching the whole film. The intention of offering something that is so Filipino, no matter what way you look at it, is worthy to be recognized. Nadine's acting and dialogues, the cinematography especially the screenplay will make you appreciate the movie more than its dance moves. It is successful in giving you lessons through the bumps that you will encounter while chasing your dreams - and that includes past nightmares that made you forget to dream. The shaken passion and the hesitations that comes after.

A spoiler - they did not win the competition. I love that Basinillo decided to take this route as this gave more heart to the film. Jen, overcoming her self-doubt and dancing her way despite of a repeated fall was the best scene. That is so crucial in terms of execution but it was achieved as I rooted for her and enjoyed her triumph over the unpleasant experience. I felt it.

Though I still think that there are conflicts that are not necessary. I still believe that Basinillo should have focused on Jen's victory in terms of renewing her passion and rectifying herself than to add-up something that the viewers may not be ready to absorb. The film put Jen on the pedestal. It was so high that the love triangle and the drama of the Jen and Vin (Sam Concepcion) love was a bit off. It is an important detail but exagerrating the hurt did not help. However, Sam's dancing skills and charms will still put you under his spell which makes it forgiveable.

But then again, INDAK is a real promise that there will be more movies to come like this, a different genre, to level-up Philippine entertainment. I'm a believer.

7.5/10. "Indak" is still on iFlix. Watch it before time runs out.

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