There’s an inside joke among the Dabarkads, the solid clique of Eat Bulaga program hosts. They say that Maine Mendoza has already signed a ten-year contract with Vic Sotto so that she would play the role of her daughter in whatever projects that the two will do onscreen.
“We had agreed on that even before Daddy’s Gurl,” Maine told Manila Standard in a previous interview.
“Actually the contract is going to last forever,” Vic said in jest during the grand media launch of Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity. “However, she’s not my daughter in our new film. Nonetheless, we’re still together.”
From their boob tube pairing in the weekly sitcom, Vic and Maine take their tandem to the silver screen once again, this time, in a Metro Manila Film Festival 2019 entry.
In the action-comedy movie, they are joined by an amazing ensemble cast headed by Powkang, Jake Cuenca, Wally Bayola, and Jose Manalo.
Directed by Mike Tuviera and with a script written by Don Santella, Michelle Ngu, and Aloy Adlawan, the movie is described by producers APT Entertainment Inc. and MZET Productions as edge-of-your-seat and high octane heist movie for all ages.
Mission Unstapabot is centered on master straiegisi Don Roberi Foriun (Vic) who assembles a motley crew of experts collectively known as “The Dons,” which consists of magician Zulueta (Pokwang), wrestler Johnson (Jake), car racer Kikong (Jelson Bay), and the mysterious master computer hacker Donna (Maine).
The Dons, under the leadership of Don Robert, will pull-off the biggest plan to obtain the famed and heavily guarded Pearl of the Orient (Perlas Ng Silangan) from the hands of Don Robert’s scheming brother Benjamin “Benjie” Fortun (Jose) and to vindicate his name from a heinous crime he did not commit.
It should be noted that his brilliant portrayal of Don Robert in Mission Unstapabol is the most thrilling role ever portrayed by Vic Sotto to date in the illustrious history of his consistent participation in the annual MMFF.
Don Robert is not only an excellent strategist, but the character is also pure of heart.
“Don Robert will do everything to vindicate himself for a crime he did not commit,” said Vic. “He will be in a relentless quest for truth and justice. It’s both interesting and exciting to see how his character will evolve in the film.”
Mission Unstapabol also offers a lot of other firsts that moviegoers could look forward to. For one, this is the very first full-length mainstream movie of Maine Mendoza after appearing in the critically-acclaimed romantic-drama Isa Pa, With Feelings opposite Carlo Aquino.
Comedienne Pokwang reunites with Bossing in Mission Unstapabol for the very first time after years of working with him in film. It has been almost a decade since Pokwang last collaborated with Bossing in 2011’s Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak!, while Jake Cuenca works for the very first time with the iconic actor.
Jose Manalo deviates from being Bossing’s sidekick as he plays the villainous Benjje Fortun while Wally Bayola plays a key role and Jelson Bay provides a different comedic flavor as Don Robert’s loyal sidekick.
Adding more color to the bunch is an amazing support cast lead by Tonton Guttierez, Max Collins, Lani Mercado, Clint Bondad, Pekto, Dino Pastrano, and Sarah Lahbati.
“The movie is jam-packed with positive Filipino values,” Mike Tuviera said of the film. “There is a lesson to be learned here – the good will always be rewarded and justice will always be served to the innocent. At the end of the movie, people will also discover that the most important things this Christmas season are family, forgiveness, and love.”
Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity is showing in cinemas nationwide starting Dec. 25.