Dubai (2005)

Dubai is a Filipino film shot in the country of United Arab Emirates that tackles a story about Overseas Filipino Workers.It stars Aga Muhlach, John Lloyd Cruz,and Claudine Barretto.The story was about an unlikely love triangle between a woman falls for brothers and it also presents what Overseas Filipino Workers go through abroad.It was written by Ricardo Lee,Shaira Mella Salvador and John Paul Abellera and directed by Rory Quintos.Aga Muhlach,who for the Nth time once again plays the handsome womanizer named Raffy.He has a brother named Andrew,played by John Lloyd Cruz.Both were orphaned as kids and had only each other to depend on. Raffy has spent the last nine years of his life working in Dubai. His ultimate goal is to fulfill a lifelong dream: to eventually move to Canada with his younger brother, Andrew. The Alvarez brothers are finally united when Andrew goes to Dubai.In Dubai, Andrew meets Faye,played by Claudine Barretto,who happens to be one of Raffy's many girlfriends. They hit it off well in spite of their age difference. She becomes his guide, comfort and lover. Seeing the two together, Raffy realizes that he still and really loves Faye. When Andrew discovers that Raffy still loves Faye, conflict arises between the brothers, almost severing the ties that bind them. In the end, what they choose and achieve are not as planned. But their experiences in Dubai lead to new beginning in their lives.The movie is an interesting film considering that it was shot in Dubai and it presents how brothers get into a situation like loving the same woman and the new life that they plan to live abroad.But nevertheless,it remained an ordinary film as it wasn't engaging and an absorbing movie for it was clichéd,predictable and formulaic.Overall,it turns out to be a typical Aga Muhlach film that tries to capitalize on his good looks.

How many other Philippine movies have the same themes and such? It started out with a good premise -- the overseas Filipino worker in Dubai -- and just degenerated into formulaic and overplayed melodrama.Quite a few crazy and unrealistic things happen in this film. The younger brother finally joins his older brother in the UAE, then falls in love with his older bro's part-time girlfriend. Then he gets her PREGNANT and his older brother just sits there calm and stuff. I highly doubt that any guy would just be calm, even if it was his brother.The movie would have been more interesting had it dealt more with living in Dubai instead of the workers' personal problems. Filipinos have a tough time in the Mideast but the film dealt nothing with it.The worst part was when the movie just becomes a tear fest of people crying, apologizing, saying saucy stuff and the like. Then the brother Raffy starts a nationalistic speech about how great it is to be Filipino. There's nothing wrong with being proud of who you are but the way he said it was very corny and awkward. Speeches like that make people forget the real problems of Philippine society -- corruption, class system, extreme poverty, runaway birth rate and others. Screw this overrated, overdone and over-hyped movie. If you want to see a movie about the overseas Filipino worker, skip this one and try "Anak" with Vilma Santos and "Caregiver" with Sharon Cuneta.

I just want to comment on the last review. The previous review said that faye went home to manila to have her child with no support from the father. There is nothing in this movie to indicate that. Andrew offered to marry her when he found out and wanted to fly back with her. His character is depicted as a hard working responsible man. Why assume no support just because they are not together? I assumed the opposite that andrew is probably sending her money.What is missing from the film is the fact that andrew loves faye and now she that she is carrying his child she wants to live apart from him and won't marry him which for most men would be devastating in the highest degree but we don't see much of that just his anger to his brother which is unfounded.If filipinos are presented here in a negative light it is because of the poor decisions that are made. Raffy sleeps around so faye breaks up with him even though she loves him. Faye allows herself to go out with and sleep with andrew unprotected and gets pregnant and of course andrew has all sorts of problems.

Dubai is one of the few movies which made me cry, a touching film that exemplifies a brother's love. This masterpiece tells the story of two brothers who were actually torn between a girl. Their relationship is being hurdled by love and by their dreams The cinematography is great. The film has captured the beauty of Dubai. The story is excellent. The actors gave noteworthy performances. Aga, here makes another remarkable performance. John Lloyd proved his worth as a dramatic actor. Claudine is also good, but this is not her best performance.The movie received good reviews and it was actually a box-office hit.