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The Debut (2000)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 23
Fresh: 17
Rotten:6
Average Rating: 6.3/10
Theatrical Release:May 18, 2000 Limited
Box Office: $1,533,516
Synopsis: Filipino-American high school student Ben (Dante Mercado) works in a comic book shop to earn money to pay his way into Cal Arts. His father, a postman, is determined that his son--who has won a... Filipino-American high school student Ben (Dante Mercado) works in a comic book shop to earn money to pay his way into Cal Arts. His father, a postman, is determined that his son--who has won a pre-med scholarship to UCLA--will become a doctor. The eighteenth birthday party of Ben's sister, Rose, sets off a comedic and touching series of events and family struggles that will in turn determine young Ben's future. This fresh independent production from Gene Cajayon presents a lighthearted and warm coming-of-age tale filtered through the eyes of an American subculture rarely seen on film. [More]
Starring: Dante Basco, Eddie Garcia, Tirso Cruz III, Gina Alajar
Starring: Dante Basco, Eddie Garcia, Tirso Cruz III, Gina Alajar, Dion Basco
Director: Gene Cajayon
Director: Gene Cajayon
Screenwriter: Gene Cajayon, John Manal Castro
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Reviews for The Debut
The Joy Luck Club did the "white people are ignorant" story with less obviousness
Director Gene Cajayon, with co-writer John Manal Castro and a charming cast, continually subverts expectations.
Mostly the situations, albeit compressed, ring true; the characters are admirably multi-dimensional, and there are welcome doses of humor that compensate for any contrivances.
That it feels so predictable is, ironically, a tribute to the universality of the experience it explores.
A neat blend of well-drawn major characters and drama, music, dance, romance and humor that generates considerable charm and achieves a heartwarming resolution of its generational conflict.
The film has a sweet low-budget quality that sometimes slips into TV-movie schmaltz.
Predictable but heartfelt, and valuable in that it is one of the first Filipino-American productions.
For all its familiarity, The Debut (an unfortunately bland and vague title) is a film from the heart...
Celebrates community and family, and does so in such a warm-hearted way that its formulaic nature is easily forgiven.
Familiar in its story arc, but fresh in its energy and lucky in its choice of actors.
A delightful coming-of-age film that becomes universal by way of its subject matter.
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