Working Beks

Working Beks is a 2016 Philippine comedy drama film written and directed by Chris Martinez. It stars John Lapus, TJ Trinidad, Edgar Allan Guzman, Joey Paras and Prince Stefan. The film is about five gay men from different walks of life are confronted with important choices that could change everything for them.

Plot
The story revolves around a day in their intertwined lives wherein each has to make a crucial decision that can change the course of their career, love life, health, finances, and destiny.

Tommy (TJ Trinidad) is a respected Marketing Director up for a promotion as Senior VP. He is well-loved in the office, and at home, he leads a healthy family life with his longtime partner and their two teenage daughters. But to his and everybody’s surprise, his most coveted position is no longer his for the taking. Now, Tommy is about to raise hell.

If there’s anyone else entitled to raise some hell, that would be Gorgeous (John Lapus). Already the breadwinner of his family, his mother even asks him to extend financial help to their relatives. Worse, when his estranged and abusive father returns, his mother readily welcomes him back. The only way Gorgeous escapes his harsh reality is “fangirling” over the matinee idol, Champ.

Rumors have it that Champ (Edgar Allan Guzman) is gay, especially after a kissing video of him and another man circulated in the internet. He’s been in hiding for days, but luckily, his mother is there to support him. Now, he finally agrees to an interview on primetime TV. Will he be completely honest, considering that his career and multi-million product endorsements are at stake?

Meanwhile, one of those affected by Champ’s video scandal is Mandy (Joey Paras). It is his wedding day, but he is having cold feet as his sexual desires for men have been reawakened. Mandy’s fiancée seems to understand, but urges him to contemplate if his life would be complete without her.

Another one experiencing an anxiety attack is Jet (Prince Stefan), the promiscuous call center agent who learns that the guy he recently hooked up with committed suicide because he had HIV. It’s about time Jet gets himself tested for sexually transmitted disease, but the memories of his recklessness are already killing him.

Cast

 * John Lapus as Gorgeous
 * TJ Trinidad as Tommy
 * Joey Paras as Mandy
 * Edgar Allan Guzman as Champ
 * Prince Stefan as Jet
 * Bela Padilla as Joy
 * Marlon Rivera as HMQ
 * Ricci Chan as Annabelle
 * Raquel Villavicencio as Mommy Pearl
 * Leo Martinez as Mr. Ted
 * Arnold Reyes as George
 * Johnny Revilla as Orly
 * Tess Antonio as Lorna
 * Jeric Raval as Gardo
 * Patricia Ismael as Annie
 * Madeleine Nicolas as Glo
 * Rez Cortez as Gusting
 * Cai Cortez as Judith
 * Geraldine Villamil as Nurse Betty
 * Atak as Brother Benj
 * Lao Rodriguez as Champ's Stylist
 * Kiki Baento as Jet's Supervisor
 * Andres Vasquez as Jonjon
 * Jelson Bay as Talkshow Host 1
 * Ana Abad Santos as Talkshow Host 2
 * Dennis Marasigan as Priest
 * Hailey Lim as Nicole
 * Elijah Alejo as Sasa
 * Ianne Oandasan as Jeannie
 * Franco Nerona as Hershey
 * Ejay Fontanilla as Glamteam
 * Brilliant Juan as Glamteam
 * Jhunee Alfonso as Glamteam
 * Christian Canales as Nurse

Release
The film was released on November 23, 2016.

Reception
Philbert Dy of ClickTheCity gave the film negative reviews and wrote: ""The whole thing seems to be about getting to certain scenes without having to do the work of building to them.""

Oggz Cruz of Rappler gave the film a positive review and he wrote: ""even in its loudest and most uneven moments, echoes sentiments that deserve to be expressed and heard. Martinez knows that the best way to say what needs to be said is to package them in a product that is accessible, even if it reinforces stereotypes of gays that mainstream media has exploited for profit.""

Soundtrack
Composed by Thyro Alfaro Produced by Civ Fontanilla Arranged by Thyro Alfaro Performed by John Lapus, TJ Trinidad, Joey Paras, Edgar Allan Guzman, and Prince Stefan
 * We're the Beks