‘Urduja’: Familiarity connects, distracts

(Published by PDI-Entertainment, June 23, 2008. Pic from Wikipilipinas.)

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Contributor

It’s not surprising that the makers of the local animated feature “Urduja” opted for a Disney-esque feel, because it almost instantly connects with viewers familiar with the classic cartoon movies. Before the advent of digitally rendered animated films, the better ones that employed the old 2-D look usually captured the grace, motion and beautiful simplicity of their human elements quite effectively. “Urduja” seems like a long-delayed Filipino homage that has its own flavor, but it also heavily exhibits the grating quirks of other films that came before it.

“Urduja” tells the story of an independent, feisty warrior princess faced with the usual challenges, its titular character based on the legendary heroine from Pangasinan who supposedly existed centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards. The only daughter of the ailing tribe leader Lakanpati (voiced by Eddie Garcia), Urduja (Regine Velasquez) questions her role in her community. She even speaks her mind on some traditions that highlight gender inequality.

The story centers on her desire for emancipation from conformity, very much like the ‘Disney heroines in the 1990s. Directed and written by animator Reggie Entienza, “Urduja” has romance, drama, songs and nicely paced action bits, too. Some computer-aided effects mesh favorably into a few scenes, as well.

Princess Urduja confidently beats up hoodlums from a rival tribe, and even one lazy and abusive husband. Consistently strong-willed, she stays true to her feelings for a foreigner, the Chinese pirate Limhang (Cesar Montano), even when her people scoff at their blossoming relationship. She’s actually betrothed to the proud and ambitious Simakwel (Jay Manalo), but finds him quite dull and boorish.

Technically, it’s well-done. Apart from the native setting and the use of Tagalog, “Urduja” benefits from the services of the local actors who lend their voices to the project. They collectively sound familiar, of course, but are able to create new personalities.

However, the movie distracts at times, and unfavorably, because it’s too inspired by the Disney formula. The characters remind you of those in “Mulan” and “Pocahontas.” The goofy but menacing snake here looks like the one from “Jungle Book,” but with a different color scheme. Stock characters, situations and resolutions abound. From start to finish, it’s easy to anticipate a person’s moves or lines, exact moments of betrayal and the last-minute saves. We’ve taken this journey too many times.

Sidekick characters like Kukut the mouse (Michael V) Tarsir the tarsier (Allan K), and Urduja’s friend Mayumi (Ruby Rodriguez) provide requisite comic relief. Kukut and Tarsir’s Taglish quips can be really funny, but some jokes pull you out of the story. It’s strangely enjoyable, however, when they say “haller,” “biyahilo,” “H.H.W.W.” (“holding hands while walking”), or some Pinoy pop culture reference (like when Mayumi describes Limhang as “maginoo pero medyo bastos”). In that regard, the film feels more like a live-action Pinoy comedy.

Despite its flaws, “Urduja” is a commendable effort. It seriously shows that Filipinos can, and should. But next time, hopefully, big projects ventures such as this should really break out of the mold, the better to give audiences more freshness and excitement.