Directed by Wenn V. Deramas, the movie zoomed to the top of the box office in its first week and continues to make millions with each passing day. In fact, Bromance: My Brother’s Romance has earned a staggering 50 million pesos to date and counting. This marks the movie by far as the highest grossing film of Skylight Films.
One of the reasons why people continue to flock to movie theaters for Bromance: My Brother’s Romance is the stellar performance of its male lead. Moviegoers wanted to see if the early buzz surrounding Zanjoe’s portrayal of identical twins Brando and Brandy is true—and they were not disappointed at all. The Cinema Evaluation Board commended the movie and Zanjoe in his acting.
“The casting is excellent. Zanjoe Marudo is a revelation, as he essayed both his roles with great versatility. Bromance: My Brother’s Romance is a good vehicle for him to display his range. This is his best movie—his performance is commendable and effortless—and it’s the perfect launching movie for him,” in the review by the board.
Zanjoe acknowledges that Direk Wenn’s magic touch helped a lot. When they were shooting the movie, Direk Wenn gave Zanjoe very specific advice on how best to bring Brando to life. “Sabi niya wag kong isipin na bading si Brandy, isipin ko daw na si Brandy ay babae, so d’un ko mas nilaro yung utak ko, na babae siya. Kambal nga kami, pero ‘babae ako, lalaki ka’, kaya lang, ang itsura ko, lalaki, kaya nagmumukhang bading si Brandy, Inimagine ko na pusong babae talaga si Brandy, napakalambot at sensitive talaga. Mukhang nakita naman ng mga nanood yung pagkakaiba ng dalawa.”
Direk Wenn brought a different flavor to Bromance: My Brother’s Romance from his previous cinema movies —Praybeyt Benjamin, Sisterakas and This Guy’s In Love With You, Mare, all of broke records at the box office too!
On Direk Wenn’s skillful handling of the movie, the CEB wrote, “It is very entertaining and not at all strained in the flow of the comedic materials. This film is a marked improvement compared to Wenn Deramas’ past works in this genre. Direk Wenn has scored a comedic masterpiece where his hilarious gags are very effective. He gives the film an engaging treatment where there is hardly a dull moment in it. In short, the direction is very good because Direk Wenn knows his subject matter very well.”
The CEB also praised the script, which was co-written by Direk Wenn and writers Ayz De Guzman and Danno Kristopher C. Mariquit. In its review, the CEB said that the film is unabashedly done in slapstick fashion, the script is still very amusing and witty. The screenplay is well-written and is complemented by the right comedic timing and enthusiastic portrayals by the main and supporting cast. The script is ridiculously funny yet heartwarming with crisp punchlines delivered at just the right time. There is a method to this madness and this time it works. The story makes no qualms that it is pure slapstick.”
The celebrity friends of Zanjoe Marudo and Direk Wenn Deramas attended the special celebrity screening of Bromance: My Brother’s Romance. Enchong Dee couldn’t get enough of the punchlines. “Ang daming bagong mga jokes,” he enthused. “Yung difference pati nina Brando at Brandy, kitang-kita, tapos yung Brando na nagpapaka-Brandy ang galing.”
“Sobra po siyang nakakatawa,” Andi Eigenmann said. “Talagang relatable siya at ang daming bago at the same time, kaya masarap siyang panoorin.”
But the movie is not just to end up with these glowing reviews —Bromance: My Brother’s Romance is best experienced in person, so go line up at a cinema near you while it’s still in theaters!
Bromance: My Brother’s Romance also boasts of a hilarious yet no less stellar supporting cast composed of Cristine Reyes (who plays Zanjoe’s love interest Erika) Arlene Muhlach, Joy Viado, Manuel Chua, Boom Labrusca, Joey Paras, Lassy, Nikki Valdez, Maricar De Mesa, Abbie Bautista, Carlo Romero and Jeff Luna.
The movie is still showing in cinemas nationwide.
