The House Arrest of Us (2020)

Slapstick Fun!

This is my first review, so apologies as I get used to reviewing!

I picked this up because I'm a fan of KathNiel. I haven't watched many of their movies, but their chemistry is clear to see, so I knew this would be a fun watch if anything. I went into it with no expectations and I was so pleasantly surprised by how fun and heartwarming this drama is!

The humor is incredibly slapstick and sometimes lowbrow, but the characters so boisterous, fun, and endearing that they make that humor part of their charm. Despite the large cast and only 20 minutes per episode, every character is well-rounded and gets their moment in the spotlight - whether it's Sylver struggling to accept that his daughter is growing up, Yaya Marie and Mang Roger on a sleuthing mission, or Rufus saving the day in his own distracted way.

At the same time though, these slapstick moments transition seamlessly into the heavy moments. The drama knows when it needs to be serious, so these moments never feel forced or out-of-place. And the writers have done such a good job building up the characters and making them feel real, we feel their emotions deeply and the issues the characters face feel oh, so relatable.

The heart of this drama is the family love. At the start of the show, the families are constantly at each other's throats, but as the pandemic rages on and the lockdown goes by, they help each other through the trials and tribulations that come from two warring families stuck together in the same house, and they begin to warm up to each other immensely. The growing love between the two families feels organic and natural. You know that the bonds that these two families created will last a lifetime.

It's been a long time since any drama has made me laugh out loud with as much joy as this one did. I introduced this drama to my mom and even rewatched a few episodes, and watching it was still as good as it was the first time.

Also, if you're a KathNiel fan, you will LOVE all the references to their past work. I almost want to watch their entire catalog so I can rewatch this drama again to spot all the jokes. Speaking a little more to their characters', Q and Korics, relationship - you can easily feel the love they have for each other. The chemistry is fantastic, and you understand both sides when they hit a rough patch. They felt very real.

If I could find any cons, I wasn't a huge fan of the song "Marry Your Daughter" by Brian McKnight which they play at all the romantic moments. I think the flow does dip towards the last few episodes but only because that's when it gets a bit heavier.

I recommend this to anyone who wants to dip their toes into Filipino dramas, anyone who likes to laugh, and anyone who loves family dramas. This drama will have a very special place in my heart.

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