Bagets (1984)
Director: Maryo J. delos Reyes
Say the words “coming-of-age movie,” and directors now will think “dark,” “brooding,” “excruciating.” Not so with this neon-colored confection, which took a light-hearted approach to awkward adolescence and made stars out of its all-male cast (including a chubby Aga Muhlach). Show us 10 critics who remember dark and excruciating coming-of-age tales, and we’ll show you an entire generation who can sing Gary Valenciano’s “Growing Up” by heart.
William Martinez on Bagets:
"The whole movie was very enjoyable. Masaya kaming lahat. Ako yung pinakamatanda sa cast at ako ang naging kuya nila. Para kaming naglalaro when were doing that movie. Wala yung 'Ako si ganon…' Walang lamangan, lahat pantay-pantay. Magkakaibigan kaming lahat. Sa sobrang enjoy namin, hindi namin napansin na natapos na pala ang shooting. Yung nakitang pagkakaibigan onscreen, real life yon, nag-eenjoy ang barkada kasi nag-eenjoy talaga kami off-screen. Kaya ang acting namin, natural na natural.
Yung ibang members ng cast, kilala ko na before Bagets. Si Herbert, kasama ko sa '2 + 2.' Si Aga, kilala ko na rin kasi naging asawa ng daddy niya si Beth Bautista. Yung kapatid ni Beth na si Susan, naging syota ko. So may mga kaibigan na ako sa cast bago pa namin gawin ang movie. Kaya naman kami nag-gel as a group kasi 90 percent sa amin dugong artista – ako, si JC, si Herbet, si Aga… si Raymond, galing naman sa family na panay singers.
