There is something a little bit misleading about Fuccbois, if you take its title quite literally.
Judging from the way things eventually turned out, one would have a slightly different perspective on the fuccbois in the spotlight.
Eduardo Roy Jr.’s Fuccbois is about two young boys, Ace (Royce Cabrera) and Miko (Kokoy De Santos), with big dreams of becoming celebrities. Inseparable, the best friends are very supportive of each other so much so that it doesn’t bother the other if one gets a step up in their aspirations.
It’s actually a refreshing take on the dynamics between young boys hoping to hit gold in the entertainment industry, which is usually brimming with competition and envy.
When Miko nabs a role for a TV series, Ace doesn’t show even an ounce of resentment. Well that’s maybe due in part to the fact that he is having problems of his own: a current lover, whom we initially know as Brithanygaile, is pestering him for attention. His plan of ignoring Brithanygaile suddenly came to a halt when a scandalous video is sent to him.
Afraid for the video to surface and spread, Miko was left with no choice but to give in to his ex-lover’s requests.
It turns out the Brithanygaile is not just anybody; the lover is a politician who’s not willing to let go.
Unable to do anything, Ace and Miko do what Mayor (Ricky Davao) wants. In return, Mayor will delete their incriminating videos.
The movie quickly shifts gears and go from bad to worse for the two leads as they find themselves in a dangerously sticky situation. But while the change in tone is noticeable, it didn’t happen out of the blue. Roy was able to plant enough seeds in the first act to justify the plot development.
Despite its title, the movie is devoid of sleaziness. We are not seeing two ‘fuck boys’ who’s getting paid for sex here and there nor are we watching young boys taking advantage of other people. There was no attempt to exaggerate what goes on in the lives of pageant boys who are willing to pay a high price for fame. Instead, we only saw two boys willing to work hard not only for success but to keep their dignities intact.
The characters may not be exactly innocent, but they are able to show how their motivations do not deviate from the normal moral standards.
That is why the tension brought by Ace and Miko’s dilemma is palpable. There’s a heavy sense of dread as they try to find a way to get rid of their sex video. Along with it comes the growing sense of fear for their future because, after all, we’ve come to care for them even with the horrible thing they have just done.
At one point, the tension spikes as Ace and Miko try to plot their escape. With a few hold-your-breath-in-fear moments, the script was able to effectively reel in the audience. Although the ending leaves some room for questions, Roy’s drama-thriller is not, in any way, disappointing.
Superb performances from its cast, most notably from Davao, made this movie worth the watch. You will also commend the leads for their brave portrayals.
It’s a solid story deftly executed to elicit strong mixed feelings for the characters. I can’t help but compare this to last year’s The Lookout and when you think about it, Fuccbois clearly knows how to tell this kind of story the right way.
