User Reviews

i love unitel for their vision and their ability to bring such films into the Pinoy silver screen. rare and must-see as these films are, i have come to understand that it will be an eternal battle for sugar pop to be defeated by the real thing.

i am delighted by robin padilla's performance throughout the film. his charming and sincere character wins the audience' hearts instantly. the teatro absurdo effect rendered by the pasyon choir, which appears every time robin's character jess huson is at a fork in the road, gives the film a new and delightfully weird texture.

this film barely made it to the billboards, much less in people's mouths -- sadly they were too busy talking about those sickening pop stars that were born from star in a million or starstruck. honestly, why go through all the effort to find that 'gem' when all stars that come from these crazy contests are as dim-witted as they come? this film shines through the screen, goes out and grabs your heart, and delivers bittersweet moments at the right times.

i also love sharon cuneta for producing this film. this actress made her best turn yet as producer of unitel pictures.

i truly hope MORE of these kinds of films reach our blockbuster thrones. this film is a must-see for all Filipinos at home and abroad and those is between.

Robin Padilla plays Jess Huson, a driver who, like many Filipinos, has always had that lifelong dream of being an American citizen. He lives with his father who spends most of his time watching television and calling up a radio call-in program and expresses his angsts about society. Jess does hope to be reunited with his girlfriend who has moved to work in the US, but his aspirations crumble when his application for VISA is denied. Until he meets a foreigner named Nigel Adams (I failed to get the actor's name but he also played his part very well) who just may give him the opportunity to finally work abroad.

This is one film that has a lot to say about us Filipinos and our oftentimes-misguided colonial mentality to consider working abroad as an aspiration in life. Although some of us may be not like that, we would feel a certain familiarity with the film's characters like Jess, who long to be reunited with his girlfriend in the US, with Mara (played by Ruffa Mae Quinto) who has been somewhat abandoned by his former boyfriend who has long left the Philippines to work abroad as well, and to Jess' father (Johnny Delgado) who would soon feel that sense of longing if and once his son would leave for the US. There is also a sense of relevance in the character of Nigel Adams, the foreigner (who seems to be British because of his accent) who initially has that admiration for the Philippines, but tends to lose that admiration when he gets the impression that he's just being suckered by opportunists that want to cash in on his being a foreigner. And lastly, is the unpleasant colonial mentality of some Filipinos who think ill of their nationality. The ones who credit every bad human trait as a Filipino trait, to the point that they deny being a Filipino at all. Certainly, this film of yours is rich in relevance, a profoundly made story of our culture.

But more than just that, it's a rib-tickling comedy that taps on real issues and realistic incidents. It's hilarious without the slapstick. From the naughtiness of Jess' senior citizen father to the bizarre world of Agimats, the film never leaves any room for dullness or cornball lameness. I also like the "choral" excerpts by Marissa Sanchez, Tessie Tomas, Noel Trinidad, and Isay Alvarez, for it is very Pinoy (one groundbreaking element making it very original). The only thing I didn't like about LA VISA LOCA was its poster.

In totality, the film is well balanced. It possesses just the right amount of intellectual and artistic substance, and the wit and humor that could entice each and every kind of audience, from the coños (slang for the upper-class bourgeoisie), to the sosyals (slang term for those who pretend to be "upper class") to the masa (to the masses), and even to scholars. I couldn't do much but salute to those who made this film and hope that it would be nominated for the prestigious Academy Award's BEST FOREIGN FILM because I would daresay that it deserves it. LA VISA LOCA is one PERFECT Pinoy film.

Truly the best Filipino film in the history of Filipino Cinema. The film avoids any cliché and irritating romantic-comedy that seems to plague Filipino Film nowadays.

The story stars Robin Padilla as a cab driver desperately seeking a visa to come to the land of dreams. During the 'course of the movie, we are introduced to comical, refreshing characters such as an American TV personality, with a British accent, Robin Padilla's father, and the stunning Ruffa Mae Quinto.

Unlike some films which attempt to mimic American life, La Visa Loca immediately establishes that this is indeed the Phillipines, and that lives often depicted in Filipino film is unrealistic. The film deals with that notion of leaving the Philipines, a subject very relevant to the Philipines. The film then comments on pride of heritage, and the importance of staying and improving the Philipines, instead of high-tailing to America.

Besides it's moral and social ideals, the film is very funny and entertaining, Padilla perhaps in his best performance. The film proceeds with such an innocent charm with it's characters and events that is impossible to not get involved with their lives and feelings. Mark Meily does an incredible job of directing, churning out a commercial art-house film, a little reminiscent to French cinema, but that's okay.

Overall, a very comical and moving piece that should be placed among the must-see Filipino films, along with The Debut.

La Visa Loca is a very catchy title for the movie.In fact, the title itself gives a bird's eye view of the movie. It depicts the central motif of the film.It shows the reality how a piece of "booklet" could drive millions of people "crazy", as if that thing could bring them to "heaven". It is one of the best Filipino Films I very saw. Padilla delivers his best in his career as an actor. This is not only because of his good performance but also to the content of the movie as a whole. It portrays the typical Filipino mentality of looking at the United States as a the land of milk and honey. That thought, that staying in that country promises better life, better future.Furthermore, the film shows a lot of the common "Filipino Culture" like for instance, the children's responsibility to take care of their aging parents, the importance of "female virginity" for Filipino men, and of course the Spanish influence of the "Holy Week Tradition". To wrap it up, the movie as a whole is a portray of a very realistic Filipino way of living, a piece of work which presents the "many realities" of the Filipino culture in a very simple but thought provoking strategy.

I had to make an account just to review this movie, this is quality! From start to end there is no boring moments, it is pure comedy, but with a taste of reality of filipino life.

You should watch it, if you are Robin Padilla fan or a filipino.