Review of Colma: The Musical (2006) by S S — 27 Apr 2007

Definitely worth seeing, but deeply flawed. Some great songs and excellent ideas, but ultimately mired in adolescent self-pity. If only writer H.P. Mendoza had been a little older when he worked on this, he might have had the perspective to better understand his characters' experiences. Instead he fills the characters' mouths with empty bitterness bordering on self-hatred and lavishes self-pity on his own character. Never a good idea, not for Woody Allen and not for a first-timer.

But I recommend the film anyway for its excellent opening half-hour. The first two songs (written in an indie-pop style) are incredibly memorable and quite cleverly written and performed. The subject is a great one for an independent film: the particular ennui of living in a small town that exists in the shadow of a world-famous city; the longings and frustrations of young adults as they graduate high school and struggle for a sense of direction. The relationships among the 3 lead characters burst forth with great potential, but the story peters out and squanders all that great energy all too soon.

I truly hope this extremely talented group, esp. director Wong and writer Mendoza, try again down the road. Actors Moreno and Renien also show strong promise. I hope someone gives them barrels of money to try again. But if they never make another film, those first two songs ("Colma Stays" and "Crash the Party") earn them a mention in the history of movie musicals.