The Super Parental Guardians is a 2016 Philippine action comedy film starring Vice Ganda and Coco Martin. The film is directed by Joyce Bernal and is under the production of Star Cinema. The film marks the second film of Coco with Vice after their blockbuster tandem in the 2015 movie Beauty and the Bestie. This is Vice Ganda's first non-VIVA Films produced film and first film to be directed by Bernal since Wenn V. Deramas' death in February 2016. This also marks as Vice Ganda's first non-MMFF movie since This Guy's in Love with U Mare! in 2012. The movie reached gross as of January 3, 2017, and now holds the title of being the highest grossing Filipino film of all time in Philippine cinema history beating the film Beauty and the Bestie which was also starred by Vice Ganda and Coco Martin. The film also holds the highest opening day gross of all Filipino films of all time at.
Synopsis
The Super Parental Guardians or TSPG tells the story of unlikely "parents" Arci and Paco. Custody of the children Megan and Ernie was given to Arci just before the death of his best friend Sarah. The children's uncle, Paco, has no choice but to live and get along with Arci. As they play the roles of Momshie and Popshie to the children, the craziest and greatest adventure of their lives will now begin.
Vice Ganda announced on September 8, 2016, that the shooting for his film with Coco Martin has begun. The film was directed by Joyce Bernal. By November 2016, the production of the film is already done.
Release
On November 7, 2016, Vice stated that his film, then entitled Super Parental Guidance or SPG was already submitted as an entry for the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival beating the deadline set by the MMFF which was on November 2. The film was not selected as one of the 8 entries to be shown in the film festival. On November 21, Star Cinema announced that the movie would be released in theaters on November 30, 2016. The film was initially shown in the Philippines at 240 cinemas but was later increased to 280 and then 309 cinemas due to public demand and popularity.
Marketing
The trailer for the film was released on November 21, 2016, which shows that the title of the film was changed to The Super Parental Guardians.
Soundtrack
"Ang Kulit", an original composition by Vice Ganda, was released as the movie's official theme song. It was first heard on November 21, 2016, via MOR 101.9 during a late night show with DJ Joco Loco. Vice and Coco performed the song on ASAP stage on November 27, 2016, as part of the movie's promotion. They are joined by child stars Awra Briguela and Onyok Pineda who are also part of the movie.
Reception
Box office
Upon its release, The Super Parental Guardians eventually became a box office success earning ₱75 million on its first day breaking the record of My Bebe Love in 2015 which grossed Php 60.5 million on its first day. By December 8, 2016, the film already garnered at least ₱300 million. About two weeks later on December 24, 2016, the film breached the ₱500 million mark. By January 3, 2017, the film already managed to earn ₱590.1 million
Critical response
It received generally negative reviews from critics. Oggs Cruz of Rappler gave a negative review, commenting on the film's plot as "unsurprisingly threadbare", and adds that " fails to be the powerful thing it could and should have been it desensitizes the public to the horrors of whatever is happening in society." Reviewer Jansen Musico of CNN Philippines was displeased with the film, commenting that "his two-hour vaudeville is entertaining in small, healthy doses. Anything more feels like a waste of neurons." any of the film's jokes are one-offs that are overstuffed into a thin, flimsy script, bloating it with news and pop culture references that add nothing to the main story arc." On the other hand, a reviewer from Philippine Daily Inquirer's Bandera praised the film, giving a score of 9 out of 10, writing that the film "is so light it perfectly fits for Pinoys who only want to be entertained this Christmas," and "delivers its purpose to make audiences laugh hard that many of them need despite with what's currently happening in the country."
