The answer is, "No"

The question, as posed by a Perez Hilton wannabe, "Has Dolphy lost his touch?"

The "article" is about the apparent poor box office showing of Philippines Comedy King Dolphy's latest movie Nobody, Nobody But Juan.

I'm not an expert on classic Pinoy comedy. I've watched very few, and what I have seen doesn't translate to English well.

I've seen a couple of Dolphy's films from the 50's, Hong Kong Holiday and Jack en Jill. Both feature a very wiry Dolphy built for physical comedy, and not just trip-over-my-pants physical, but body language physical. He even does a very good dance sequence in The Big Broadcast.

The only film I own from his 60's output is Napoleon Doble. In this movie you can see Dolphy as a leading man, and in a duel role as the crime boss. It may or may not be an important film in the Dolphy canon, but it does show him evolving as an actor.

Among his 70's films that I own my favorite is the Brocka directed film Ang Tatay Kong Nanay, in which he seems to revisiting his character created in Jack en Jill, 20 years later. By this time Dolphy is able to add depth to what is basically a stereotypical character. (20 years later he would return to this character in the drama Markova: Comfort Gay and would add more layers.)

Dolphy is now over 80 years old and still making films. Long gone are the pratfalls, but since he allowed himself to grow as an actor he remains a vital screen presence.

In 2008 he made the film Dobol Trobol with fellow comedian, Vic Sotto. This was basically a Vic Sotto movie, his director, his writers, his usual gang of co-stars. Dolphy just seemed to be along for the ride. The movie has very few laughs, and these are all supplied by Dolphy. What he lacks in physical ability he makes up with timing.

Back to the question: "Has Dolphy lost his touch?". The person asking this question seems to think box office = better comedy, success = quality. This is an extremely sad state of affairs and anyone who really feels that way is a shallow individual.

BTW, I noticed that NNBJ has earned as much or more at the box office, so far, as Mano Po 6. Does this mean that you will soon be writing about how Sharon Cuneta has lost her touch? Just asking.