Puto (film)

Puto is a 1987 Filipino teen fantasy comedy film directed by Leroy Salvador and starring Herbert Bautista as the titular character, alongside Janno Gibbs, Mia Prats, Dennis Da Silva, Bing Loyzaga, Jigo Garcia, Gelie de Belen, Jayjay Salvador, and Cathy Mora. It is Bautista's first film to feature him in the solo lead role.^[2] Produced by Viva Films, the film was released on November 4, 1987, and was a box office success.

Puto
Directed by	Leroy Salvador
Written by	Amado L. Lacuesta Jr.
Produced by	Ramon Salvador
Starring	Herbert Bautista Janno Gibbs Mia Prats Dennis Da Silva Bing Loyzaga Jigo Garcia Gelie de Belen Jayjay Salvador Cathy Mora
Cinematography	Joe Batac Jr.
Edited by	Ike Jarlego Jr.
Music by	Mon del Rosario
Production company	Viva Films
Release date	November 4, 1987 (1987-11-04)
Running time	97 minutes[1]
Country	Philippines
Language	Filipino

Luciano E. Soriano gave the film a mixed review, praising Bautista's performance while having middling feelings about the supporting cast and some gaps in logic.

Plot

Ivanhoe "Puto" de la Cruz is a young puto vendor who dreams of being with Gina, his classmate at the Andres Bonifacio High School. After accidentally rescuing three little elves (Elvis, Boy George, and Travolta), he is granted a week-long chance to wish for anything he wants.,^[3] culminating in the rescue of Gina from a band of kidnappers. Puto's powers expire during a running competition, but he manages to win fair and square, gaining the respect of everyone in school.

Cast

• Herbert Bautista as Ivanhoe "Puto" de la Cruz
• Janno Gibbs as Juanito
• Mia Prats as Gina
• Dennis Da Silva as Danny
• Bing Loyzaga as Tere
• Jigo Garcia as Sonny
• Gelie de Belen as Mindy
• Jayjay Salvador as Charlie
• Cathy Mora as Kathy
• Marita Zobel as Aling Loleng
• Berting Labra as Travolta
• Max Alvarado as Elvis
• Cachupoy as Boy George
• Chris Villanueva as Johnny

Release

Puto was given a "G" rating by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), which stands for "General Patronage",^[4] and was released by Viva Films on November 4, 1987.^[5][6] The film was a success at the box office.^[2]

Critical response

Luciano E. Soriano of the Manila Standard gave the film a mixed review, questioning some of the film's gaps in logic such as whether the school attended by Puto, a poor vendor, is public despite the presence of rich students, as well as why the elves need someone to rescue them when they can transform into animals and easily escape. Soriano also wrote that the film's situations "are standard fare among youth-oriented movies", and that the supporting cast were unmemorable in their roles, though he commended Bautista by stating that "it is as clear as daylight that this is Bautista's show all the way."^[3]

References

1. Puto. OCLC 64040900. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via WorldCat.
2. Medina, Rogelio Constantino (January 27, 1988). "The Artist in Bing Loyzaga". National Midweek. No. 12. Lagda Publishing Inc. p. 34. Retrieved May 10, 2021. She [Bing] recently appeared in Viva Films' Puto, a surprise blockbuster comedy-fantasy starring Herbert Bautista in his first solo lead role.
3. Soriano, Luciano E. (November 20, 1987). "Unfulfilled fantasies". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. p. 10. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
4. "MTRCB Movie Classification Guide for films reviewed 23 Oct. -- 5 Nov. 1987". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. November 9, 1987. p. 14. Retrieved May 10, 2021. The movie is wholesome entertainment for the entire family.
5. "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. November 4, 1987. p. 11. Retrieved May 10, 2021. AVENUE......................Puto
6. "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. November 3, 1987. p. 10. Retrieved May 10, 2021. AVENUE................Street Smart

External links

• Puto at IMDb