It was a good strategy by production house Starvision to release a family movie on this year-end holiday as other local films had run for a week or more. As a plus, Cek Toko Sebelah (Check the Store Next Door) was especially worth the wait.

The title comes from the common phrase used by owners of small-scale grocery stores — which usually stand side-by-side on the same row of a street — should buyers try to haggle for a lower price, implying that their price is already the lowest compared to their competitors.

The film, however, is not about the fierce competition among the dying business that is gradually being replaced by more sophisticated self-service chain stores. Instead, the comedy is built on a strong family drama about father-son relationships, a sort of Cain and Abel competition in fulfilling their filial duties and about making the right choice.

The premise may seem convoluted for the genre but hey, it’s stand-up comedian Ernest Prakasa’s.

Just like in Ngenest: Kadang Hidup Harus Ditertawakan (Sometimes Life Deserves a Laugh), his 2015 debut movie as director and scriptwriter, in Ernest’s second attempt, he satirizes the stereotype of his Chinese-Indonesian heritage and acculturation with no silly self-pitying.

The film follows widower Koh Afuk (Malaysian actor Chew Kin Wah) after the death of his wife (played by Dayu Wijanto) who wants his youngest son Erwin (Ernest) to run the family store, knowing well that the graduate of a university in Sydney, Australia, has a good career and is set for a promotion for a manager position in Singapore.

Erwin half-heartedly nods to his ailing father’s wish, although his girlfriend Nat (Gisella Anastasia) rolls her eyes while older brother Yohan (Dion Wiyoko) stares in envy. Yohan’s marriage to non-Chinese Ayu (Adinia Wirasti) is without his father’s blessing and he is still struggling without a fixed income.

To make matters worse, property developer agent Robert (Tora Sudiro) and his assistant Anita (Yeyen Lidya) regularly come to the street to talk the store owners into selling the place.

As the story progresses, Erwin grows fond of the store and the workers until he receives the affirmation letter on his Singapore job promotion.

Cek Toko Sebelah is not all perfect in the story’s execution, which may make it seem episodic, but it nevertheless stands out from the rest of its kind for its idea of bringing up a subject so familiar to Indonesians — one that is otherwise often presented in an enclosed case. From the story’s construction, however, it is easy to sympathize with Yohan, the black sheep of the family, while Erwin’s character is not equally explored.

Ernest got help in the script department from Jenny Jusuf (Filosofi Kopi) and story development from his wife Meira Anastasia, with some comedic material from Bene Dion Rajagukguk (Warkop DKI Reborn) nicely weaved in the whole story. A cameo of Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko Widodo, is seen more as a gag than a mere gimmick.

Since it is a comedy, one might expect an over-the-top climax, but there is something else going on in the film worth noting: the representing of voices that make Indonesia. The characters speak in different accents using some words of their own mother language — from the Chinese-Malay accent familiar to coastal Sumatra, the different accents of the Javanese, native Jakarta’s Betawi and the current youth lingo, which is a mix of Indonesian and English, to South Sulawesi’s Makassar and Papua accents.

The emotional tone of the film mostly comes from the ensemble cast, including the comedians. Kin Wah, who previously appeared in My Stupid Boss, and Dion were impressive in embodying their characters. Even newcomer singer Gisella Anastasia pulls it off. Kudos is given to Asri Welas, who plays Erwin’s boss, and despite her brief, supporting appearance, she controls the running gags to the end.

In theaters since Dec. 28, Cek Toko Sebelah has a lot in store to offer as it is heartfelt and entertaining at the same time. It’s a much-welcomed addition to Ernest’s directorial portfolio and to the list of Indonesian blockbusters.

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Cek Toko Sebelah
Kharisma Starvision Plus, 98 minutes

Director: Ernest Prakasa
Scriptwriters: Ernest Prakasa, Meira Anastasia, Jenny Jusuf
Cast: Ernest Prakasa, Dion Wiyoko, Chew Kin Wah, Gisella Anastasia, Adinia Wirasti, Tora Sudiro, Asri Welas, Dodit Mulyanto, Arafah Rianti, Kaesang Pangarep

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