Viva Films and N2 Productions’ Miss Granny is based on the Korean motion picture of the same title by CJ ENM Corporation. The Filipino version stars Sarah Geronimo as Miss Granny and it is directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal.

I watched the Korean version of Miss Granny a few weeks ago, and I thought that the actress portraying Miss Granny was perfect. She was quirky yet winsome.

I know that Sarah is a great singer and a decent actress in romantic-comedy films. I have seen all her movies and I thoroughly enjoyed all of her reincarnations as a leading lady. Notwithstanding my fangirling, I was still pleasantly surprised of how well she portrayed Odrey de Leon, the spunky and no-filter woman in her 70s who was magically transformed into the 20-year old version of herself after her photo was taken in Forever Young Portrait Studio.

Sarah pulled off the cute scenes while donning retro clothes (which I adore) and an Audrey Hepburn-inspired hairdo, fighting off a suspected attacker, Lorenz Milleza (Xian Lim), using two fresh bangus as weapons or bossing around everybody, especially her unsuspecting grandson, Jeboy Malabaño (James Reid). I was amazed at how Sarah mouthed things off, many things that nobody would expect Sarah Geronimo would say (hindot and talipandas are just top-of-mind words), and she mouthed them off flawlessly. Yet, Sarah’s ladylike manners that seem innate in her as a person makes the Filipino version of Miss Granny more refined than the Korean version.

It goes without saying that she shone like a supernova in the song and dance numbers. Sarah combined playfulness, professionalism, and perfection in every musical part. Musical numbers normally lull me to sleep, but Sarah’s voice and charisma were espresso shots that kept me focused at the task at hand.

Xian and James are the pretty boys that lure the girls to watch Miss Granny but their roles are very limited. James’ Jeboy the guitarist, is akin to a mobile background for Sarah’s Odrey the vocalist, but at least Jeboy had more interactions with Odrey. And in a couple of scenes, Jeboy looked genuinely starstruck of Odrey, which is good for him because Jeboy was supposed to be infatuated with Odrey. However, James needs to improve his Filipino and lose his Aussie accent. Xian’s Lorenz, meanwhile, had a handful of scenes with Odrey, and he could not control his laughter in one of them (the bangus scene).

Miss Nova Villa as Fely (Odrey’s older version) was divine. She is the heart of Miss Granny – the grandmother that everyone dislikes for being too loud, too snooty, or too pakialamera, but she is also the face of senior citizens who are afraid to be disliked, deemed useless, or worse, forgotten by their loved ones. Noni Buencamino as Fely’s beloved son Ramoncito is memorable, especially in his scene with Odrey at the hospital. Boboy Garrovillo’s Bert is the token comic relief, but he is also a tortured soul whose love of his life took him for granted.

Miss Granny is a Sarah Geronimo film, but it is more than just belting out old sad songs. Miss Granny is about family, especially our grandparents, or the senior citizens in general. They are the forgotten members of our society, which this movie fortunately placed front and center. I will paraphrase what Fely said at the end of the movie, let the senior citizens have fun; they are old but they not dead.

For other hugot lines, please read First Love – Hugot Edition, Exes Baggage – Hugot Edition, The Hows of Us – Hugot Edition, That Thing Called Tadhana – Hugot Edition, I Love You, Hater – Hugot Edition, Sid & Aya (Not A Love Story) – Hugot Edition, Kasal – Hugot Edition, Never Not Love You – Hugot Edition, My Perfect You – Hugot Edition, Meet Me in St. Gallen – Hugot Edition, Mr. & Mrs. Cruz – Hugot Edition, Love You to the Stars and Back – Hugot Edition, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes – Hugot Edition, Unexpectedly Yours – Hugot Edition, Last Night – Hugot Edition, Finally Found Someone – Hugot Edition, Can We Still Be Friends? – Hugot Edition, Seven Sundays – Hugot Edition, Kita Kita – Hugot Edition, Can’t Help Falling In Love – Hugot Edition, My Ex and Whys – Hugot Edition, and Heneral Luna – Hugot Edition.

Here are some hugot lines from Viva Films and N2 Productions’ Miss Granny:

“Paano nasusukat ang lungkot?” – Feliza “Fely” Malabaño (Nova Villa)

“Ang araw na ako ay naging isang ina, naramdaman ko ang tunay na pagmamahal.” – Fely

“We all want to be loved, don’t we? I want to be loved pero sino pa ang magmamahal sa akin? Matanda na ako.” – Fely

“Guwapo ka pala kung maga, pero ‘yan ang napapala ng mga pakialamero.” – Fely

“Nag-rerate nga tayo, wala naman tayong napapasikat.” – Lorenz Milleza

“Anak naman, maawa ka naman sa akin. Ang laki ng paghihirap ko, magiging musikero ka lang.” – Angela “Angie” Malabaño (Lotlot de Leon)

“Metal na nga tinutugtog natin, binaboy mo pa.” – Jeboy “Jebs” Malabaño (James Reid)

“Ikaw, maging mabait ka sa asawa mo. Wala na siyang sisisihin kung wala na ako dun.” – Fely

“Waiter? Powder ang ginamit n’yo no?” – Fely

“Namatay ang nanay ko. Nagkasakit siya ng dahil sa ‘yo. Namatay siyang pangalan mo ang nasa bibig niya.” – Olivia

“Napakasama mong tao! Magnanakaw!” – Olivia

“Patay na si Audrey Hepburn?” – Fely

“Magpapapicture ako bago ako pumangit. Ayoko naman pangit ang picture ko sa burol ko.” – Fely

“Hijo, pampakalma!” – Odrey de Leon (Sarah Geronimo)

“Puwede na kayong magsaya. Wala na ako diyan.” – Fely

“Kaya ka nga may daddy eh kasi naglasing kami ng lolo mo.” – Odrey

“Naku, talipandas ka! Talipandas na bata!” – Odrey

“Ang pagkakaalam ko sa music, umaantig sa puso. Hindi bumabasag ng eardrums.” – Odrey

“Bastos! Bastos ka! Hintod! Hintod!” – Odrey

“Okay naman pala siya. Nag-alala pa ako.” – Odrey

“Powder ho ba ang ginamit ninyo? Ang bagay ho kasi sa ulo-ulo ay sariwang sampalok.” – Odrey

“Kung ganun ay patayin mo na rin ako. Itapon mo ako sa Pasig River para makasama ko si Ma’am Fely.” – Bert (Boboy Garrovillo)

“Ang hirap ng buhay pero tuwing makikita ko ang mga ngiti niya gumagaan ang pakiramdam ko.” – Bert

“Mat puso raw akong kumanta. May soul.” – Odrey

“Dumating lang siyang parang hangin at umalis na parang usok.” – Bert

“Bakit? Hindi ba ako karapat-dapat?” – Bert

“Ay, hindi! Wala ‘yan (sugat sa paa). Malayo sa bituka. Wala namang lalabas na pari diyan.” – Odrey

“Tumatanda ka kapag dinudugo ka.” – Bert

“Alam ko kasi ang mga mama, hirap na hirap sila kapag malayo sila sa kanilang mga anak.” – Odrey

“Ikaw, may gusto ka talaga sa akin no? Hijo, ngayon pa lang sinasabi ko na sa ‘yo na hindi kita type.” – Odrey

“Kita mo lalo kang gumaguwapo kapag ngumingiti ka.” – Odrey

“Kakanta tayo. Tutugtog tayo. Kakantahin ko ang kanta ni Jeboy ko. Lakasan natin para marinig niya.” – Odrey

“Gusto mo bang bumalik sa pagkatanda? Gusto mo bang mangulubot at mangamoy lupa?” – Bert

“Huwag kang bibitaw. Huwag kang bibitaw, anak. Ganun araw-araw, walang mintis.” – Ramoncito Malabaño (Noni Buencamino)

“Wala akong babaguhin para maging anak kita ulit at maging mama mo ako.” – Odrey

Kahit matanda na tayo, magpakasaya tayo kasi hindi pa tayo patay.” – Fely