Kusina Kings

Kusina Kings, a 2018 Filipino comedy film, is a fantastic blend of humor, camaraderie, food, and life's unexpected up-hill battles. Directed by Victor Villanueva and written by Wincy Ong and Chris Costello, the film features Zanjoe Marudo, Empoy Marquez and Nathalie Hart in key roles, and masterfully tells a tale of friendship, dreams, and culinary adventures.

The film pivots around its central characters - Benjie (Zanjoe Marudo) and Ronnie (Empoy Marquez) who share not only a profound bond of friendship from their childhood but also an exquisite love for food and cooking. Both harbor dreams of owning and operating a restaurant, amassing their passion for food and entrepreneurial spirits. Benjie, an aspiring chef, is passionate and meticulous about his art, while Ronnie, his down-to-earth best friend, believes in their shared aspiration and continually supports him.

Their dreams eventuate into reality when they open a restaurant together –an endeavor enabled by Benjie's culinary acumen and Ronnie's life's savings. However, running a restaurant soon proves to be more daunting than they had imagined. As the restaurant's struggle to stay afloat, the plot thickens, throwing Benjie and Ronnie into a whirlwind of comic, nerve-racking situations.

The film picks up pace when they cross paths with a mysterious woman named Frankie (Nathalie Hart). Frankie's introduction to the plot is a turning point in the narrative, adding a layer of suspense, mystery, and a dash of romance to the gustatory journey of Benjie and Ronnie. Zanjoe Marudo and Empoy Marquez's comedic timing, along with Nathalie Hart's shroud of mystery, makes for an entertaining viewing experience.

Comedy is central in Kusina Kings, and it puts forth a blend of slapstick humor, clever dialogues, and situational comedy. It creates moments of hilarity, pulls at heartstrings, and makes the viewer cheer for Benjie and Ronnie. Marudo and Marquez exhibit exceptional on-screen chemistry, which plays a significant role in inducing laughter and grounding the movie's emotional moments.

However, Kusina Kings is not purely comedic. It introduces elements of drama and suspense that make it a well-rounded film. It unfolds a narrative about the struggles of kick-starting a business and the daily hustle of keeping it going. While the humor-filled scenes keep the audience entertained, the moments of despair and struggle mirror reality and showcase the value of resilience and persistence.

The restaurant, which is central to the narrative, serves as a symbol of their friendship, dreams, struggles, and the ups and downs they face. The food, too, plays a crucial role, influencing the events of their lives and shaping their personal and business relationships.

In the true spirit of a culinaric journey, Kusina Kings is filled with mouth-watering scenes of Filipino food being prepped and served. The film gives equal importance to the characters, the narrative, and the food, making it a visual treat for film and food lovers alike.

Amid all the laughter and the struggles, the film also offers philosophical undertones about the unpredictability of life, the essence of perseverance, and the importance of friendship. It reminds viewers that success is not solely defined by monetary gains, but also by the experiences earned, the dreams fulfilled, the friendships treasured, and the adversities overcome.

Kusina Kings, at its core, is a story of two friends navigating their dreams amidst life's reality, embracing the highs and lows, and never giving up. It is a film not just about food and friendship but also about hope, dreams, love, and resilience. It ends up serving a wholesome cinematic dish, set against a backdrop of charming humor and poignant life lessons.

All in all, Kusina Kings is a delightful watch, mixing a dash of comedy, a sprinkle of drama, a pinch of romance, and a hefty serving of culinary delights. It's a film that promises fun and food in equal measure and leaves viewers with a resonating message about enduring friendships and the pursuit of dreams.