Sep 1, 2011

Tween Academy Movie Review

WE FINALLY SAW ‘Tween Academy: Class of 2012’ last Monday and we’re surprised that it allegedly didn’t do as well as expected at the tills as it turned out to be an entertaining teen film. Director Mark Reyes really knows his target market. We saw it at SM North Edsa last Tuesday and since it’s a holiday, there was a capacity crowd of teeners and whole families watching it that time and they were all reacting well to the movie.

The story revolves on three good friends: Barbie Forteza as Kara, Bea Binene as George and Elmo Magalona as Enzo. Barbie has a chatmate on the internet using the alias Supergirl: Joshua Dionisio as Robin whose alias is Colossus. When they finally eyeball, Joshua asks Alden Richards to pretend he’s Colossus and Barbie asked Louise de los Reyes to pretend she’s Supergirl, resulting into some complications and petty jealousy.

Bea is tomboyish but she harbours a secret crush on her Parekoy, Jake Vargas, who’s attracted to Lexi Fernandez.

Elmo falls in love with his teacher, Maddie (Sam Pinto). They’re the charatcers who get the most exposure. Kristoffer Martin and Joyce Ching were also given their own brief story, but it’s more like an afterthought. Playing an even lesser role is Derrick Monasterio as the villainish school bully. The film's climax is their school's junior and senior prom where all the problems of the characters involved are resolved happily.

In fairness to the tween stars, they all perform their parts well. Standouts among the girls are Barbie and Bea, who can also both act creditably. Sam is a lovable eye candy. Among the guys, the standouts in the looks department are Derrick, Alden and Kris. Playing their parents and appearing in cameo roles are Angelu de Leon, Bobby Andrews, Yayo Aguila, Pinky Amador, Nadia Montenegro, Jojo Alejar, Mark Herras, Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera and others. “Tween Academy” is extended in several theatres so you can still catch it.