The Entitled Movie Review: Classist, offensive and bereft of nuance

Theodore Boborol’s comedy-drama movie fails to impress with its usually grotesque and unsubtle model of humour. However regardless of the various issues it has going in opposition to it, the narrative positive possesses the potential to do higher. Alas, if the execution and writing had been superior and the performing much less over-the-top, this Filipino romcom could properly have been salvageable. My reasoning for that is easy; The Entitled just isn’t all that arduous to sit down by means of. The story, although cliched and overcooked, is of a younger grownup girl from a tough, less-privileged background reconnecting along with her rich father and trying to adapt to a brand new lifestyle. In such conditions, the size of complication is excessive, one thing that should lend itself to respectable storytelling.

Director – Theodore Boborol 
Solid – Alex Gonzaga, JC De Vera, Johnny Revilla, Ara Mina, Melai Cantiveros, Andi Abaya 
Streaming On – Netflix 
 

What Boborol and Gonzaga (she can also be one of many writers too) convey to you is a movie that pulls out each stale cliché within the e-book. Little nuance or sensitivity is paid to Belinda’s (Alex Gonzaga) circumstances. As an alternative of refined hints of her adjustment, the writing and path go to nice lengths to mould her right into a caricature. On the one hand, she is meant to be clued up within the methods of the world owing to her powerful upbringing, however as quickly as she is launched to her father, his household and their luxurious lifestyle, she turns into this bumbling oaf with seemingly restricted understanding as to how the world works. For example, she is properly versed with the web, utilizing Fb Reside and TikTok frequently, however when she encounters Alexa in her palatial bed room, she smashes the “speaking field” to smithereens out of concern. One other operating gag by means of The Entitled is Belinda’s incapability to take care of tense conditions. An uncomfortable expression washes over her face at such occasions as she clutches her abdomen. It’s all the time some type of gastrointestinal misery to take care of; she’s both throwing up on an unsuspecting particular person or dashing to the lavatory to alleviate herself. This crude, bathroom model of humour is supposed to elicit uproarious laughter, in fact, however finally ends up going the best way of its personal excremental tunnel.

The dramatic elements of the movie (Belinda’s relationship along with her father, particularly) should have been explored in larger element for improved outcomes. Enrico’s (Johnny Revilla) guilt with regard to Belinda and her mom and Belinda wishing for her father to simply accept her unconditionally are cases that work within the narrative’s favour. Class divide is one other main theme. Whereas it’s trivialised for probably the most half, with Belinda being the butt of all jokes, because it had been, there are moments when Theodore Boborol will get his act collectively. Belinda befriends the governess at her new mansion and connects along with her father’s resort workers instantly. She goes as far as to push for a hike within the latter’s salaries whereas studying the ropes of the enterprise. This type of behaviour is frowned upon and to be averted within the circles her stepmother, Matilda (Ara Mina), and stepsister, Caitlyn (Andi Abaya), transfer in. What disappoints most about The Entitled is that the true (reminiscent of these aforementioned examples) is substituted for the ridiculous 9 occasions out of ten. 

Alex Gonzaga’s purportedly comical features of her central position are matched of their idiocy solely by Melai Cantiveros (enjoying Governess Yaya Monina). She has a secret crush (not-so-secret, when you go by her behaviour) on Jacob (JC De Vera) and is heartbroken when his affection in the direction of Belinda grows. Her facial contortions and mocking expressions are extremely overdone and arduous to look at. Cantiveros’ position could also be added to the listing of caricatures pushed forth by the narrative. The awkward romantic tangle brewing between Belinda and Jacob is ham-fisted, to say the least. The second of battle, one thing you’re in a position to see lengthy earlier than it involves move, is yet one more failed mission on the a part of the makers. Of their effort to sketch Belinda as a childlike village belle who’s tough across the edges, they find yourself presenting her as a infantile boor. The movie is most definitely classist, portraying less-privileged village people in a way bereft of nuance or sensitivity. 

Had they touched extra upon the drama (learn actual), The Entitled may properly have ended up being a watchable effort. It’s maybe the potential of this realism (from Belinda’s fractured relationship along with her father to the tough circumstances again in her small hometown) that compels you to look at the movie to its conclusion. Sadly, potential alone solely takes you thus far. For probably the most half, this slapstick, unsubtle try at portraying class variations is borderline offensive and something however humorous, if you consider it!