PROJECT BABY

Project Baby (2026)

Directed by: Eric Quizon

The protagonist is a woman who wants to have a baby but refuses to be bound by marriage and a husband. This premise can already be considered brave and progressive, especially in a conservative country like ours.

However, the movie ultimately takes the safer route, shying away from its toughest issues instead of directly confronting them. In the end, it also adopts a conservative approach in dealing with family issues.

Ang convenient kung paano isinulat ang mga karakter. Ayaw ng babae ikasal dahil sa failed marriages. Pero ang lalaki ay punong puno ng green flag. Sasabihin ng babae na ayaw niya ng commitment. Pero ang lalaki ay gustong gusto maging tatay. Kumbaga kahit anong problema ng babae ay saktong nasa lalaki ang solusyon.

May kanya-kanyang trauma ang mga karakter. Kahit paulit-ulit nila itong sabihin, kulang pa rin siya sa timbang. Binabanggit lamang nila ang mga dahilan at hindi ibinabahagi ang karanasan. Nagmumukha tuloy silang entitled na kailangang masunod ang kanilang gusto dahil yun ang nakasulat sa script.

Nagkaroon ng mommy issues kahit parang wala naman. Hindi makausap nang matino ang mga kaibigan. Bagamat mahirap at bago ang gagawin ng dalawang bidang karakter, hindi na ipinapakita kung paano nila ito pinaghahandaan. Madalas ay sasabihin na lang ang mangyayari. Nawawala ang experience na makasama silang buohin ang naturang baby project.

Dahil nasa advertising world ang bidang babae, puro word play sila na may kaugnayan sa salitang project. Ngunit maliban dun, naging palamuti na lang ang kanilang trabaho.

Ang pagkakababae ay hindi nasusukat sa pagkakaroon ng anak at asawa. Maganda sanang talakayin nila ito sa kanilang pelikula, pero pati yun ay hindi nila nagawa.

Hindi natutumbak ang mga dapat pagusapan. Paligoy-ligoy sila. Nalilihis ang “project”. Imbes na malaman sana kung paano haharapin ng isang babae ang buhay na may bata at walang tatay, naging ordinaryong romcom na lang ito. Yung plot nilang kakaiba sana ay naging pangkaraniwan na lang.

Napuputol bigla ang mga eksena. Madalas ay pinagdugtong lang sila kahit walang buwelo papunta sa susunod na mangyayari. Alanganin ang flow. Rough ang pagkaka-edit.

Walang chemistry sina Rico Blanco at Sue Ramirez. Ngunit bagay ang magkasalungat na energy na ibinibigay ng kanilang mga karakter.

A character driven by desperation yet restrained by reservations can be difficult to portray, yet Sue Ramirez does it with ease. Her performance is convincing that the actress and the role become almost indistinguishable.

Her character’s energy is consistently high, often making the scenes feel less grounded despite the seriousness of the matter. As a result, it becomes difficult to fully empathize with the situation.

That’s where Rico Blanco comes in, providing the much-needed balance. He grounds the movie with his understated portrayal.

On some scenes, he seems awkward, stiff, and uncomfortable. So it’s a pleasant surprise whenever he lets loose.

He has a knack for comedy, making exaggerated changes to his face and voice that catch you off guard.

Hindi randam ang presensya ng ensemble. Maliban sa limitado ang kanilang mga eksena, hindi rin sila masyadong nakakatulong sa pagbuo ng project. Ang kaunti ng matitinong usapan kasama ang pamilya at kaibigan. Gayunpaman, maayos pa rin ang kanilang naging pagganap.

It’s refreshing to see Alice Dixson’s elegance on the screen. Matt Lozano is the cutest gay friend to exist on the screen. Nakakatuwa siya hindi lamang pagdating sa kurutan at landian, kundi pati na rin sa yakapan at sampalan.

Hindi charot ang comedic skills ni Charuth. Malinaw siyang mag-deliver ng mga lines. Maayos ang kanyang phrasing. Nasa tamang tiyempo at timing.

Kimson Tan is a natural as the friend who always has something to say. Alex Calleja speaks with confidence, but his humor is underutilized here. Walang rapport ang friendship nilang tatlo kasama si Rico Blanco.

Maliban sa mismong baby, hirap din silang makabuo ng mga relasyon—mula sa kaibigan, pamilya hanggang sa pagmamahalan.

While connection, chemistry, and rapport are some things the movie struggles to establish, the biggest problem still lies in its story, which initially seems experimental but then becomes conventional.

Nalihis nang tuluyan ang mga deliverables.

Ang proyekto na kanilang nasimulan

ay hindi napanindigan.

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘

Cast: Rico Blanco, Sue Ramirez

With: Matt Lozano, Arra San Agustin, Alex Calleja, Yasser Marta, Charuth, Jazzil Sarinas, Jonathan Perez, Shecko Apostol, Drei Arias, Kimson Tan, Christian Ty, Alice Dixson

Written by: Jose Javier Reyes

Presented by: Regal Films

Release Date: June 10, 2026 in Philippine cinemas nationwide

A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews