The Debut

The Debut (2001)

  • 74% of critics liked it
    (23 reviews)

  • 72% of users liked it
    (1,217 ratings)

Ben Mercado is a talented high school senior who enrolls in a prestigious art school in order to realize his dreams of becoming an animator. However, his plans come into conflict with those of his immigrant father Roland, a postal worker intent on seeing Ben become a doctor. Their long-simmering… More

R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By
Gene Cajayon
Written By
John Manal Castro, Gene Cajayon
Genres
Drama, Comedy
In Theaters
May 18, 2001 Limited
On DVD
Sep 9, 2003

Critic Reviews

  • Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

    Mostly the situations, albeit compressed, ring true; the characters are admirably multi-dimensional, and there are welcome doses of humor that compensate for any contrivances.

  • Lou Lumenick, New York Post

    An earnest and predictable little indie.

  • Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times

    A neat blend of well-drawn major characters and drama, music, dance, romance and humor that generates considerable charm and achieves a heartwarming resolution of its generational conflict.

  • Laura Sinagra, Village Voice

    The film has a sweet low-budget quality that sometimes slips into TV-movie schmaltz.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    Familiar in its story arc, but fresh in its energy and lucky in its choice of actors.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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