This biopic about the first President of the Philippines under the Commonwealth suffers greatly from its incomprehensible humorous undertone, with cheap comedic quips present during two-thirds of the film.

While the glaring overexposition, especially during the scenes in the cinema where we get an explanation of the events on top of the already displayed story on the screen, could be to some extent understandable as an attempt to familiarise audiences with historical occurrences and context, what becomes quite frustrating is the constant portrayal of Filipinos as petty and unreliable people, while the Americans, although being the colonisers, are portrayed as morally grounded and educated. Nonetheless, it is true that the most interesting parts of the film are found in the moments where the Machiavellianism and corruption of Quezon in his pursuit of power come to the forefront. Nevertheless, it is difficult to truly feel compelled by the serious moments when the already mentioned jokes, either through editing or performances, are sprinkled practically throughout the interactions intended to be higher‑stakes.

But not everything is a bad directorial decision; one noteworthy technical accomplishment is the way in which the contrast between Quezon and his main Presidential campaign rival, Aguinaldo, is visually displayed. The noticeable contrast in attitude portrayed by both characters, the environment in which they campaign, as well as the photography and colouring, elevates the importance of the contention between them.