The trailer of Family Matters, an entry to the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival, is said to have drawn 17 million views. But can these numbers assure the movie of box office success?
Trailers are viewed for free. But a movie ticket now costs over P300. It remains to be seen whether even just a fraction of the 17 million views of Family Matters will show up at cinemas on the MMFF’s holiday run starting on 25 December.
Then again, it has been proven that Pinoys turn out in droves with their respective families during the MMFF.
As its title says, Family Matters is about a household. The story revolves around the patriarch, who suffers a stroke, and his six grown-up children who clash over various issues.
Noel Trinidad plays the head of the family, Liza Lorena is his wife, with Mylene Dizon, JC Santos, Nonie Buencamino, James Blanco, Nikki Valdez, and Ian Pangilinan as members of the brood.
Agot Isidro is Buencamino’s wife.
In the cast are Ana Luna, Ina Feleo, Ketchup Eusebio, and Roxanne Guinoo.
Nuel Naval directed the film from the script of Mel del Rosario.
Liza Lorena and Noel Trinidad as wife and husband in ‘Family Matters.’
Showbiz observers believe the Naval-del Rosario team is a factor that can help push Family Matters to earn big in the MMFF.
It’s the same duo behind the 2019 MMFF top-grosser, Miracle in Cell No. 7, which starred Aga Muhlach and child actor Xia Vigor. It had a fanciful plot of a daughter being smuggled into the prison cell of her father who was wrongfully accused of killing a young girl.
At the recent media conference for Family Matters, Trinidad admitted to being hearing impaired. During the shoot, he said, he constantly asked his co-actors “Ano raw?” — after the director had given instructions.
While saying he’s still good for a few more movies, Trinidad added, with candor, it would be an honor if Family Matters would be his last.
He and Lorena were in high spirits at the media conference. They playfully kissed a lot, prodding showbiz reporters to dub them “Loveteam of the Year.”
At that point, Trinidad’s deafness seemed to have suddenly healed, as he quipped: “Next time, we’ll have a kissing scene with tongues moving.”
Lorena screamed, feigning shock, and nervousness.