Starzan: Shouting Star of the Jungle

Starzan: Shouting Star of the Jungle, also known as simply Starzan, is a 1989 Filipino comedy film directed by Tony Y. Reyes, written by Reyes and Joey de Leon, and starring de Leon as the titular character. It also stars Zsa Zsa Padilla, Panchito Alba, Tina Paner, Cris Villanueva, Cynthia Patag, and Rene Requiestas. The film is a parody of the Edgar Rice Burroughs character Tarzan.

Starzan: Shouting Star of the Jungle
Directed byTony Y. Reyes
Written by
  • Tony Y. Reyes
  • Joey de Leon
Starring
Cinematography
  • Rody Lacap
  • Ely Accion
Edited byEfren Jarlego
Music byBoy Alcaide
Production
company
Release date
  • January 4, 1989 (1989-01-04)
Running time
114 minutes[1]
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Produced by Regal Films, it was released on January 4, 1989, and was a box office hit, earning ₱24 million in Metro Manila alone. It became the highest-grossing comedy film in the region at the time, surpassing Batang Quiapo (1986). Critic Lav Diaz gave the film a mixed review, recognizing de Leon and Requiestas as a good comedic duo and commending the film's depiction of the environment's unjust treatment, though he expressed concern about the potentially lowering standards of audiences for films.

The success of Starzan effectively launched a franchise. This includes two sequels, Starzan 2: The Coming of Star Son (1989) and Starzan III: The Jungle Triangle (1990), a spin-off film, Cheeta-eh, Ganda Lalake? (1991), a television series,[2] and an album.

Cast

Soundtrack

The film's theme song was included in the compilation album Starzan, Cheeta-eh! At Iba Pa Ganda Tugtog (lit. '"Starzan, Cheeta-eh! And Other Wonderful Tunes"').[4][5]

Release

Starzan was released by Regal Films on January 4, 1989.[6][7]

Box office

The film was a box office success, earning ₱24 million in Metro Manila alone.[8] Thus, the film became the highest-grossing comedy film in the region at the time, surpassing Pablo Santiago's Batang Quiapo from three years prior.[8] Executive producer Lily Monteverde gave Joey de Leon a ₱1 million bonus as a result of the film's success.[9]

Critical response

Lav Diaz, writing for the Manila Standard, gave Starzan a mixed review, stating that though de Leon and Requiestas are a good comedic combination, they need better, "fragrant material". Diaz gave his concern that audiences might only settle for enjoying "kabantutan" (transl. "stench-ity") or lowbrow fare such as the film, citing its inclusion of the yell "Cheetaeh!", the last two syllables of which meaning "poop". However, he commended Starzan's clear depiction of society's disrespectful treatment of the environment, and suggested that the film could be used by the Haribon Foundation in their advocacy.[3]

See also

Home media

Starzan was released on DVD by Regal Entertainment on July 26, 2013.[1]

References
  1. "Starzan -Philippines Filipino Tagalog DVD Movie". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  2. "New Vision 9 makes history tonight". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. July 19, 1990. p. 17. Retrieved June 16, 2021. 8:30
  3. Diaz, Lav (January 15, 1989). "Bayang mabaho – sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa" [Foul-smelling nation – in thought, in words, and in action]. Manila Standard (in Filipino). Manila Standard News, Inc. p. 16. Retrieved August 12, 2020. Magandang kumbinasyon sina De Leon at Requiestas. Mabangong materyal lang ang kailangan.
  4. "Joey's 'Tough Hits' album released". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. February 27, 1990. p. 13. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  5. OPM Vinyl Playlist. Starzan I by Joey De Leon and Rene Requiestas. YouTube. YouTube LLC. Event occurs at 0:12.
  6. "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Manila Standard News, Inc. January 4, 1989. p. 14. Retrieved August 12, 2020. CAPITOL.......................Starsan
  7. "Movie Guide". Manila Standard. Manila Standard News, Inc. January 3, 1989. p. 14. Retrieved August 12, 2020. CAPITOL.................Pik Pak Boom
  8. Japitana, Norma (April 18, 1989). "Comedy is 'In' and earning". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. p. 26. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  9. Libo-on, Eddie (July 4, 1989). "Wise Joey puts up own film company". Manila Standard. Kagitingan Publications, Inc. p. 24. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
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