Verdict: Value for Money
Pinoy Rebyu Score: 3.86 (7 ratings)
Genre: Comedy
Director: Miko Livelo
Writers: Miko Livelo, Joel Ferrer
Cast: Joem Bascon, Jun Sabayton, Dimples Romana, Jhiz Doecareza
Synopsis: George Bustamante, an engineer working in Japan, loses his job. Instead of telling his son Kiko and loving wife Juniper of his misfortune, he decides to take a friend’s offer of playing a stunt double for a sentai show. Now donning a blue mask and spandex suit, George becomes both onscreen and offscreen hero to his family in the Philippines.
Trailer:
Reviews:
4.5 Zig Marasigan (Rappler)
“Melodrama is traded for punchlines, and the world of ‘Force Five’ is brought to life in a flurry of make-believe sets and intentionally tacky special effects. But at its heart, Blue Bustamante is grounded by an endearing sentimentality that resonates among those who have grown up to the very same memories that Livelo brings to life.” (Read full review)
4.5 Philbert Dy (Click the City)
“It’s powerful stuff, and that the film is able to tell this story through the often funny use of elements of Tokusatsu shows is just icing on the cake. Blue Bustamante, despite its production hiccups, turns out to be a really beautiful film.” (Read capsule review)
4.5 Emil Nor Urao (E-Reviews)
“Blue Bustamante is an ultimate crowd-pleaser for its ultimate fusion of comedy, drama and ultimate nostalgia. I wish that it will have an international release because it’s sincerely made for OFWs, their families and those proud 90’s kids, like me.” (Read full review)
4.0 Oggs Cruz (Twitch)
“Like the kids whose crayon-colored cardboard masks are their greatest tributes to their favorite after-school pastime, Livelo crafts the film to be his grandest compliment to nostalgia.” (Read full review)
4.0 Carljoe Javier (Spot.ph)
“A smart period piece that firmly situates itself in the sentai subculture, the film addresses fan love, as well as problems of the diaspora. It manages to talk about the Filipino family and the struggles of the OFW while also prioritizing its sense of fun and playfulness.” (Read full review)
3.5 Manuel Pangaruy (Tagailog Special Presents)
“Kahit na generic ang base premise, on the side ay may ilan naman itong gustong sabihin tungkol sa imported na pop culture, relasyon ng bata sa kanyang absent na magulang at ang panonood ng TV bilang escapism.” (Read capsule review)
2.0 Lyndon Maburaot (Table Stretcher)
“These visual imperfections of practical superhero costumes, robots and props that have Livelo copy and reenact a show from the sentai series of the nineties are actually the film’s sole charm, the roughness giving off an odd appeal that is endearing enough. Unfortunately, it is all there is to the film, with the rest of it, the bigger, larger part that is, basking in anemic creativity.” (Read capsule review)
SFFR 