AiAi deals Alas and Bayani Agbayani team up in a romantic movie, which showcases their brand of comedy in a light-hearted story of people trying to keep up and fit in with the millennials.
Entitled Feelennial, a portmanteau of “feeling millennials,” is about middle-aged individuals who feel and act like millennials. They are your adorable titos and titas, who stumble into one misadventure after another as they try to adopt the lifestyle of the younger generation.
Ai-Ai plays the role of Madame Bato-bato, a rich single mom who has everything she needs except the attention of her only son Nico, played by actor-model Arvic Tan. She tries to do the activities that her millennial son is into to gain the latter’s attention. In one of her feelennial activities—online dating, she meets Chito (Bayani’s character), a rich bachelor who recently won a huge sum via lotto jackpot.
Their first encounter doesn’t turn out too well, and what ensues is a flurry of mishaps and misadventures, pitting De las Alas and Agbayani into funny, yet thought-provoking situations on how romance and family dynamic has changed in today’s society.
“It’s our first time to work in a film but we’ve been very friends for a long time now. So it’s not really hard working together because we already know and feel comfortable with each other,” said AiAi in a recent press conference for the film.
Both Ai-Ai and Bayani are surrounded at work by a young group of stars and production people, whose millennial habits they have somewhat imbibed as well. These include cast members Nar Cabico, Ina Feleo, Nicole Donesa, Jelai Andres, Sofia delas Alas, Skelly Skelly, Micah Muñoz, Arvic Tan, and Raffy Roque, with special participation of Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez, and Paolo Ballesteros.
Both Ai-Ai and Bayani said they find playing their roles in the movie a breeze as they can fully relate to their characters. With four grown-up children, Ai-Ai has always practiced the millennial vibe as she is into #ootd’s, constantly takes selfies and groufies, and regularly uploads these on her social media accounts.
Bayani is also a certified “titolennial.” Married for over two decades to his wife Lenlen, he gets his inspiration from their four young millennial daughters.
Directed by one of GMA 7’s resident directors, Rechie del Carmen, Feelennial is produced by Cignal Entertainment, the original content division of the Philippine’s #1 Pay TV provider, Cignal TV, and Pops Fernandez’s DSL Productions, which marks its first venture into film production after organizing successful concerts for over 30 years.
Feelennial unspools in cinemas nationwide on June 19.