EXCLUSIVE: ‘Akala ko negative infinity:’ Director Rayn Brizuela surprised by 4/5 ‘Pares’ rating

“Nagulat ako! Akala ko negative infinity ibibigay niya eh,” Brizuela told radar in an exclusive interview.

The director said he respects critics’ right to dislike a film, but admitted there was no pretending the positive reception did not feel good.

“Hindi ako magpapaka-ipokrito na siyempre mas masaya kami pag mataas ang rating na ibinibigay sa pelikulang ginawa namin,” he said.

Goldwin Reviews described the movie as “refreshing” in the current landscape of Philippine cinema, praising its ensemble and its refusal to fall into the “paulit-ulit” category.

“Hindi lang siya puro sabaw, meron din siyang laman,” the review declared before recommending the film.

For Brizuela, that reaction was particularly satisfying because “Pares” was never designed to be approached purely through conventional logic.

“Madali kasing mamisinterpret o hindi makita yung intention na mas experiential ito kesa lohika,” he explained, comparing its comic spirit to the films of the late Wenn Deramas and Vice Ganda that continue to find audiences online.

The film follows food-loving best friends Don and Mola, played by Herrera and Napoles. After Don learns he supposedly has only 24 hours to live, the pair sets out to find and taste a legendary viral pares—only for the food trip to spiral into increasingly outrageous chaos.

For Brizuela, the secret ingredient was collaboration.

He credited an expansive comic ensemble that includes TJ Valderrama, Kedebon Colim, Yanyan de Jesus, Jobelyn Manuel, James Caraan, Nonong Balinan, Gene Padilla and Christine Bermas, along with the production and post-production teams.

“More than the putahe, mas yung paraan kung paano niluto ang nagpasaya sa proseso,” he said.

Working with Herrera and Napoles brought its own pressure. The two have already proven their comic chemistry in projects including the cult hit “Pangarap Kong Holdap.”

“Marami na rin silang proyekto na napagsamahan na iconic,” Brizuela said. “Nandoon talaga yung pressure na mabigyan ng justice ang kanilang husay.”

That pressure eventually disappeared once cameras started rolling.

“With Pepe and Jerald, sobrang gets na kaagad nila,” he said. “Masaya katrabaho si Jerald at Pepe, very professional.”

And while a 4/5 from Goldwin Reviews is already something the filmmaker clearly did not expect, Brizuela is treating that missing star as motivation.

“Pag nabigyan ulit ng pagkakataon, mas huhusayan pa namin para maging 5/5 na!”

“Ang Pinakamasarap na Pares sa Balat ng Lupa” opened in Philippine cinemas on August 26.

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