‘INSTANT Daddy’ is comedian Jerald Napoles’ solo starrer without his perennial partner, GF Kim Molina. The movie shows that he is not just capable of making people laugh but also giving them a good cry.

A Pinoy adaptation of the Mexican international hit “Instructions Not Included”, Jerald should thank his director Crisanto Aquino for coming up with a heartwarming family movie that will cater to viewers of all ages.

We don’t know how faithful it is to the original film, but “Instant Daddy” is a movie apparently designed to be a three-handkerchief tearjerker that is meant to tug at the viewer’s heartstrings and squeeze your tear ducts.

The story starts with Jerald’s character, Val, as a little boy whose mother abandoned him and his father (Jao Mapa). His dad made him believe that his mom is abroad and regularly sends him letters which, in truth, is just written by his dad himself. When he learns the truth as a teenager, he leaves his dad to go to Manila.

Val became a cab driver who is afraid of commitment as he’s afraid that what happened to his parents would also happen to him. He dates many girls and one of them is Julie (Danita Paner), who suddenly leaves him a baby she says is their daughter.

Julie leaves for abroad and Val has no choice but to raise the girl, Mira (Althea Ruedas), by himself. He is helped by his friends and neighbors: Ryza Cenon, MC Muah and Nikko Natividad.

Just like his own dad, Val writes fictitious letters for Mira which he claims is from her mom. They become so attached to each other. But just like similar stories about a child raised by someone then the real biological mom returns to claim him or her back (examples are “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay”, “Ina, ang Iyong Anak”), Julie returns.

Julie says she is now married to an American and owns a jewelry shop in the States. Of course, Val will not give Mira to her that easily so she files for custody and wins the case.

But the movie has a number of startling twist. First, is Val really Mira’s dad? They have to take a paternity test.

Then, Val is earlier shown suffering from some kind of illness, feeling dizzy and collapsing. So you’d think he’d eventually expire and leave the girl to her real mom.

But then again, the movie springs another surprise just when you think everything is already going well with all the characters. This unexpected scene is the one that will certainly test your lachrymal glands.

And judging from the reactions of the viewers inside the theater when we saw it, it looks like it has achieved its intentions. Even our driver who was with us cried during that crucial melodramatic moment.

The movie is quite well acted. Like we said earlier, Jerald, shines as Val, a man who has deep daddy issues. He proves to be effective in both his comic and dramatic scenes.

He is splendidly supported by the precocious Althea Ruedas as his “daughter”. They also work together in the TV5 sitcom “Team A” and Althea likewise did well in the Netflix film, “Dollhouse” with Baron Geisler.

Danita Paner gives a heartfelt performance as Althea’s mom, Julie. She doesn’t really come out as a contravida and she surely deserves to be seen more often. Ryza Cenon (she plays a very minor role, Danita’s role is more challenging), MC Muah and Nikko Natividad as Jerald’s loyal friends. The movie is now showing in theaters nationwide.