Sarah Geronimo Gives An Award-Calibre Performance In The Title Role Of 'Miss Granny', Shining In Both Her Acting And Singing

SARAH GERONIMO gives a totally terrific comedic performance as “Miss Granny” and she’s also simply stunning in all her musical numbers, especially in her tour de force revival of Norma Ledesma’s “Forbidden” which got instantaneous applause from the audience during its premiere night at Trinoma last Monday. The movie is very commercial but very highly entertaining. The scene when Nonie Buencamino finally realized that the young Sarah is actually his missing mom will bring tears to your eyes. The movie has the feel of a surefire blockbuster as it’s a real crowd pleaser.

Sarah is thankful that Viva Films assigned to her the remake of this hit Korean movie, “Miss Granny”, which already had successful versions in other countries like Germany, India, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and many more. Hollywood is now doing its own version.

The story starts with Nova Villa as a 70-year old woman, Fely, a grouchy control freak who is
disillusioned in life. She lives with her son and gets into conflict with her daughter in law (Lotlot de Leon), who gets sick because of all the stress she’s getting from her grumpy biyenan.

Fely gets along fine only with her grandson, Jeboy (James Reid), a budding musician. Then, with the help of a mysterious photo studio, she regains her youth and is transformed into Sarah Geronimo as Audrey, a name she got from her favorite Hollywood star, Audrey Hepburn.

“It’s no joke to play the role of Audrey,” says Sarah. “Kasi kailangang maipakita ko pa rin ang nuances ng isang 70 year old woman na may galaw na parang bente anyos. Challenging ito for me and I’m glad to have an acting coach to help me in interpreting my role. I tried my best na kopyahin si Tita Nova Villa, pati facial expressions and pagsasalita niya. But I enjoyed the whole process of doing this movie kasi napalapit talaga ito sa puso ko. Family oriented kasi siya and I believe na mapapalapit din ito sa puso ng bawat Pilipino.”

She also thanked Director Joyce Bernal for guiding her. “After I saw the original film, sabi ko, we have to be faithful sa atake nung character. Isinama niya ko sa Home for the Aged para makita ko yung mga galaw ng totoong matanda. I told Direk na game akong gawin lahat ng ipagagawa niya sa akin. Audrey is a very responsible woman kasi nga, in her heart, matanda na siya. Responsable siya sa buhay niya and I enjoyed doing her on screen.”

Can she say the same for herself in real life? “At this point in my life, sa decisions about my career, my personal life, kailangang I take full responsibility na. Hindi na puede yung basta chill chill ka lang diyan.”

If she’s given the chance to return to her past, would she

change anything? “Parang okay naman ang past ko as it made me who I am today. Marami akong natutuhang lessons. But if ever I’d be given the chance to relive my life, siguro mas magiging decisive ako for myself. Na ako yung magsasabi kung ano ang gagawin ko at hindi ko gagawin. I want a Sarah na strong woman, hindi parang robot lang na oo ng oo or opo ng opo. Ganyan.”

How is it working with her leading men, James Reid and Xian Lim? “I’ve worked with Xian before in a TV commercial and masaya siyang katrabaho, magaan, very down to earth and friendly. He plays a TV producer who helps me and James appear in their TV show. Si James, first kong naging katrabaho as an actor dito at napaka-natural niya. Very relaxed lang. He has his own style. Pero hindi ko sila leading men dito, lalo si James kasi apo ko nga siya in the story. First time ko ngang wala akong leading man. Itong pelikulang ito, inaalay ko sa lahat ng mga nanay at lola na nagsisikap para sa mga pamilya nila. Para sa kanila po ang ‘Miss Granny’ na opens na po this Wednesday sa mga sinehan.”