REVIEW: ‘Lolo And The Kid’ Is Simple And Sweet

Written and directed by Benedict Mique, the Filipino Netflix Original Lolo and the Kid is simple, sweet, and unexpected. Lolo (Joel Torre) and Kid (Euwenn Mikael Aleta) are a dynamic duo of swindlers. Living on the streets and in motels, they spend their days robbing “donors” to make money and their nights celebrating with carnivals and karaoke. These two love each other dearly and it shows brightly throughout the whole movie.

Lolo and the Kid has an all-time great cold open. Lolo, looking disheveled as ever, is heartbroken to admit that he perhaps can’t take care of Kid on his own. A kind couple with no children tells him they’re willing to adopt Kid and take care of any needs Lolo has as he restarts his life. Kid comes running out of his new parents’ arms, crying his heart out. He can’t leave his Lolo. Euwenn Mikael Aleta puts on an incredible performance. So does Joel Torre, for that matter. But that’s all it is: a performance. Because as soon as night falls, Kid comes bounding of the house, arms full of fancy trinkets, right back into Lolo’s arms as the two run off to hide and sell their stolen wares in the morning.

It’s at once a totally endearing setup and a moment where you have to promise yourself to suspend your disbelief. The entire plot of Lolo and the Kid is about these two going on similar capers, and not once are police alerted. The families have the exact same response to their routine despite knowing them for what feels like only a few hours. But it’s all fine. The movie doesn’t ask you to make leaps in logic, it only asks you to have fun watching Lolo and Kid’s antics as Lolo becomes increasingly aware that their schtick can’t last forever.

Their bond is just so sweet. You could really believe these two are family in real life. Watching their love for each other makes the entire movie worth it by itself. You get everything from tough love to whimsy with a disarming score following them around. If you’re not charmed by these two, you might need your warm and fuzzy sensors checked out.

As Lolo and Kid keep robbing folks blind, Lolo slowly starts to feel like maybe he isn’t providing everything Kid needs the way he thought he was. He’s taught Kid so much about life and the world, but Kid’s never been to school. He doesn’t have friends his age or any of the protections that come with having a family and living in a house. Lolo starts second-guessing the way things have been by the time some major plot twists take place, the waterworks will be in full force from your tear ducts.

The structure of Lolo and the Kid is 90% anticipatory, but the final minutes make a decision so completely unexpected that it immediately elevated the score of this review. More movies deserve to forsake the natural progression of their plots to deliver huge emotional impacts the way this one does. While the method isn’t so far out of the ordinary, the results are unexpected and majorly pay off.

Lolo and the Kid is sweet and simple, but it’s also special. The relationship between the two main characters is so wonderful. You believe they truly love each other and are devastated by the inevitable trajectory of their lives. But the journey from here to there is so fun and livened by silly interactions with other characters and their daily routine. Most definitely give this one a watch when you’re looking for something bittersweet to enjoy.

Lolo and the Kid is streaming now, exclusively on Netflix.