'ADOBO' WARMS OVER MORE OF THE SAME IMMIGRANT RECIPE.Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic EVERYBODY who makes an immigrant-adjustment movie undoubtedly thinks that they're providing unique insights into a singularly dramatic experience. Yet many of these movies, a lot of which include the word ``American'' in their title and, just as often, place an emphasis on cooking and eating, have developed into a rigidly formulaic genre. A cross-section of friends and relations, either first- or second-generation Americans, cope amusingly with the conflict between traditional values Traditional values refer to those beliefs, moral codes, and mores that are passed down from generation to generation within a culture, subculture or community. Since the late 1970s in the U.S. and looser, New World ways, and have a lot of predictable romantic misadventures. Variations on the recipe are provided by the cultural specifics of the home country. At least two of them concerning folks from India were released last year. ``American Adobo'' is the Filipino version. It's more focused on its characters' love lives than on assimilation difficulties, which may be reflective of the strong U.S. influence on the Philippines. Otherwise, it sticks rigidly to the paradigm, rarely permitting its characters more than two obvious dimensions and repeatedly placing them in contrived, well-worn situations. The main group consists of five old college friends from Manila, all of whom live in varying degrees of comfort in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . Mike (Christopher De Leon) edits the East Coast edition of a Philippine newspaper, has a wealthy, selndulgent wife, a rebellious teen-age daughter and a vague sense that he should be back home where the significant political action is. Gerry (Ricky Davao) does something in advertising, is afraid to let his friends know he's gay (and even more terrified ter·ri·fy tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies 1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten. 2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. that his mother will find out), and keeps his lover, Chris, out of everyone's sight. Tere (Cherry Pie Cherry pie is a pie made with a cherry filling. Morello cherries (sour cherries) are often used in cherry pies. Cherries are expensive — and sweet varieties are best used eaten fresh and raw. Sour cherries are best for cooking and may be used fresh or preserved. Picache) is a plump spinster SPINSTER. An addition given, in legal writings, to a woman who never was married. Lovel. on Wills, 269. who cooks the title stir-fry dish for the gang, prays a lot and worries that she'll die well-liked by all and still a virgin. Glamorous Marissa (Dina Bonnevie Geraldine Schaer Bonnevie known as Dina Bonnevie (January 27 1961 in Quezon City is a Filipina actress. Her son (born 1984) is the actor Oyo Boy Sotto. Early Life and background Bonnevie was born January 27, 1961 to Honesto Bonnevie and Jeannette Schaer. ) has the opposite problem, a musician boyfriend who can't keep his hands off other women. That guy is reflected in Marissa's handsome cousin, Raul (Paolo Montalban), a love 'em and leave 'em lothario who drives a BMW BMW in full Bayerische Motoren Werke AG German automaker. Founded as an aircraft engine manufacturer in 1916, the company assumed the name Bayerische Motoren Werke and became known for its high-speed motorcycles in the 1920s. sports car - we're never really told what he or Marissa do for their obviously successful livings. Personal crises abound and tend to come to boils over clunkily staged party-disasters, ``gotcha'' revelations about dating partners and pat generational misunderstandings. Interestingly, every Caucasian and African-American character winds up either naked or requiring medical assistance at some point. The specter of AIDS haunts several principals. And friendship proves to be the great constant in an uncertain world. Director Laurice Guillen and most of the ensemble are Philippines-based, which may be partially why the film often seems superficial and somewhat awkward. On the other hand, the actors, with their conversations that slip fluidly between English and Tagalog and all manner of shared socio-cultural references to draw on, lend palpable authenticity to their characterizations that the cliched cli·chéd also cliched adj. Having become stale or commonplace through overuse; hackneyed: "In the States, it might seem a little clichéd; in Paris, it seems fresh and original" script (which actually thinks lines like ``She doesn't make dinner, she makes reservations'' are still funny) certainly didn't provide. The film's target audience of Filipino-Americans should warmly relate to these people, who are designed to be likable lik·a·ble also like·a·ble adj. Pleasing; attractive. lik  a·ble·ness, like rather than deep. And like most immigrant dreams, ``American Adobo'' bears the hope of better things to come. ``AMERICAN ADOBO'' Two and one half stars (Rated R: nudity, sex, language) Starring: Christopher De Leon, Dina Bonnevie, Cherry Pie Picache, Ricky Davao, Paolo Montalban. Director: Laurice Guillen. Running time: 1 hr. 42 min. Playing: Playhouse 7, Pasadena; Westside Pavilion The Westside Pavilion is a shopping mall located in West Los Angeles. It is owned and operated by The Macerich Company. It is a three story urban-style shopping mall with 150 shops and is anchored by a Macy's (formerly May Company and later Robinsons-May) and a Nordstrom. , West L.A. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Tere (Cherry Pie Picache, left), Raul (Paolo Montalban) and Gerry (Ricky Davao) share a meal in ``American Adobo a·do·bo n. pl. a·do·bos A Philippine dish of marinated meat or fish seasoned with garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and spices. [Spanish, from Old Spanish adobar, to stew .'' |
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