Alyas Batman en Robin

For the 1965 film, see Alyas Batman at Robin.

Alyas Batman en Robin (lit. 'Alias Batman and Robin') is a 1991 Filipino musical-comedy superhero parody film based on the titular superheroes from DC Comics, Batman and Robin. It stars Joey de Leon as Batman, Rene Requiestas as the Joker, Dawn Zulueta as Angelique Legarda, Vina Morales as Vina, de Leon's son Keempee as Robin, and Panchito as the Penguin. Several songs in the film use melodies taken from other early rock and roll staples such as "At the Hop", "Bird Dog", "Lucille", and "Surfin' Safari".^[3]

Alyas Batman en Robin
Directed by	Tony Y. Reyes
Written by	Joey de Leon Tony Y. Reyes
Based on	Batman by Bob Kane and Bill Finger
Starring	Joey de Leon Rene Requiestas Keempee de Leon Vina Morales Dawn Zulueta
Cinematography	Oscar Querijero
Edited by	Eduardo Jarlego
Music by	Mon del Rosario
Production companies	Viva Films[1] Regal Films
Distributed by	Regal Films
Release date	April 6, 1991 (1991-04-06)
Running time	102 minutes[2]
Country	Philippines
Languages	Filipino English

Originally produced by Viva Films, the film was delayed from its original release in early 1989 when Warner Bros. objected to the use of their characters' names and costumes. The film was eventually produced and released on April 6, 1991, albeit by Viva Film's rival studio, Regal Films.

Plot

Cast

• Joey de Leon as Batman
• Rene Requiestas as the Joker/Jocson
• Dawn Zulueta as Angelique Legarda
• Vina Morales as Vina
• Keempee de Leon as Robin/Kevin
• Panchito as Tiyo Paenguin/Tiyo Paeng
• Almira Muhlach as Catwoman
• Chinkee Tan as Glasses
• Cathy Mora
• Ruben Rustia
• Mon Alvir
• Bomber Moran
• Joaquin Fajardo
• Yoyong Martirez
• Rommel Valdez
• Ernie Forte
• Rene Hawkins
• Danny Rojo
• Bert Cayanan
• Rey Solo
• Jun de Guia
• Ariel Villasanta
• Nemy Gutierez
• Enciong Reyes

Production

The film was initially an unauthorized production from Viva Films, set to be released in 1989^[1][4] to capitalize on the then in-production 1989 Batman film starring Michael Keaton. Shooting lasted into June 1989, with comedians Joey de Leon and Rene Requiestas alleging that Dawn Zulueta was causing delays in the final weeks of shooting due to prioritizing her other commitments.^[5] Warner Bros.^[a] objected to the use of their characters' names and costumes, which resulted in production being halted a day before its completion.^[6] Despite de Leon's attempt to remedy the situation by proposing to title the film Hello Batman... How's Robin, the release of the film was still blocked for some time.^[6][7] The film was eventually produced and released by Regal Films in 1991, two years later than the intended 1989 release.

A sequel was planned, launching Thursday group member and popular matinee teen idol and heartthrob Hector Chua, but those plans did not materialize.

Parodies

The "R" on the Robin costume was intentionally stylized to resemble the logo of its eventual producer, Regal Films, a rival to the film's original production company Viva Films.

Panchito's Tiyo Paenguin literally means "Uncle Paenguin", which is a portmanteau of the names "Tiyo Paeng" (Paeng being a nickname for Raphael/Rafael) and "Penguin". The name is also a double entendre of the Spanish-derived Filipino term for fellatio, chupa.

Joey de Leon imitates the mannerisms of Fernando Poe Jr. in some scenes of the film. Poe had earlier produced a similar Batman parody film in 1965.

Dawn Zulueta's character is based on Vicky Vale, Batman's love-interest who works as a reporter in the comics and as a photojournalist in Kim Basinger's version of the character in the 1989 film. Similarly, her name is a combination of the names of then-ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs correspondents, Angelique Lazo and Loren Legarda. Her butler, Noli Boy, on the other hand is a spoof of another ABS-CBN anchor Noli de Castro, with him often quoting the latter's signature Magandang Gabi, Bayan.

See also

• Alyas Batman at Robin, a 1965 Filipino film
• James Batman

Notes

1. The Manila Standard erroneously referred to King Features Syndicate as the copyright owners of the Batman franchise; most other sources named Warner Bros. as the company who threatened legal action.