The Search for Weng Weng (2013)

Awesome Movie

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I guess I've now been around to see the two craziest movie projects of all time take shape - Kevin Brownlow's IT HAPPENED HERE begun when it's creator was 14, and Andrew Leavold's THE SEARCH FOR WENG WENG.Brisbane video store proprietor Leavold stumbled across a dubbed copy of Phillipino trash movie FOR YOUR HEIGHT ONLY, featuring a three and a half foot Pinoy composite of Bruce Lee and James Bond. Unravelling the lead's forgotten story got to consume Leavold's life. Eight years, three mortgages on the store and a model exercise in cloud funding later, Leavold is touring the planet showing his documentary representing Weng Weng as action hero become tragic victim of exploitation become Catholic icon. The highlight of his attention getting live introductions is always Leavold showing the tattoo he had done on his shoulder in Manilla, showing Weng Weng in a religious aura.The film itself is a shrewd mix of clips, interviews and accounts of its makers'adventures in the Philippines, which included being guest of honour at Imelda Marcos' 81st birthday party. Slowly Leavold finds his way to the star's low cost plot in the cemetery where the Manilla homeless live among the grave markers.The result is surprisingly involving. It's remarkable that this one summons the know how to convince audiences that it's not a put on, not an unhealthy cash-in on it's sad little man subject and not something you should pass over for another look at GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY.

Perhaps you're like me and were only aware of the midget Weng Weng from funny programs of shorts at festivals. To be fair, I've never seen a complete movie of this little guy playing a James Bond-type spy in a few 70s Fillipino movies. Beforehand, I found the little excerpts of his work hilarious and ridiculous so why not a documentary about this obscure, forgotten "star". This documentary told me everything I wanted to know about Weng Weng and more. It mostly takes place in the Philippines and interviews a lot of his co-workers of the time. It also tries to solve the mysteries of where he came from, what he was like and what happened to him. It also has plenty of footage, some never seen before, of Weng Weng in action so it could be worth watching just for that. All is not fun and funny as we learn more about his life and fate. It's also amazing when the director manages to hang around with and interview a very famous Filipino who I thought was dead. I thought the documentary was in danger of being derailed at that point by spending almost too long with that surprise guest star, but it eventually got back on track. Don't worry about not understanding the sometimes thick accents, because everything that needs to be subtitled is subtitled. I was pleasantly surprised overall and I think almost anyone with an interest in B-movies might enjoy this.Rating: 8 out of 10 (Very good)