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Sheman: Mistress of the Universe

Sheman: Mistress of the Universe is a 1988 Filipino fantasy adventure comedy film directed by Tony Reyes and starring Joey de Leon as the titular character, alongside Panchito, Ruffa Gutierrez, Dennis Da Silva, Erik Cayetano, Mylene Gonzales, Paquito Diaz, Ruel Vernal, Timmy Cruz, Palito, and Rene Requiestas. It parodies both the film Masters of the Universe and the character Panday as portrayed by Fernando Poe Jr.

In the film, a male blacksmith gains the power to transform into an effeminate superhero dressed in drag.

Produced by Viva Films, the film was released on September 7, 1988. Critic Lav Diaz gave it a mixed review, praising De Leon's parody of Panday early in the film but expressed disappointment in the lessened comedic quality of later scenes involving Sheman.

Plot

Pando is a provincial blacksmith who rescues a gay hermit. The hermit reveals himself to be a refugee from the Kingdom of Gayskull, which has been usurped by Kiss Manay, who in turn has sent goons into Pando's town to abduct children. To rescue the children and take back Gayskull, the hermit gives Pando the power to transform into Sheman, an effeminate superhero in drag with superhuman abilities and magic weapons.

They storm Gayskull, defeat Kiss Manay and rescue the children, after which the Kingdom is transformed back into its original form and the hermit reverts to his former role as prince.

Cast

Joey de Leon as Pando/Sheman
Panchito as Tio Paeng
Ruffa Gutierrez as Tima
Dennis Da Silva as Lito
Erik Cayetano as Cris
Mylene Gonzales
Paquito Diaz
Ruel Vernal as Kiss Manay
Timmy Cruz as Ligaya
Palito as Skeleton
Joonee Gamboa as Gayskull
Atong Redillas
Rene Requiestas as Stallone
Yoyong Martirez as Kabo
Sunshine as Prinsesa Aliksha
Bamba
Benjo
Vic Sotto as the prince
Tetchie Agbayani as Bubbles
Jimmy Santos as Joaquin Bordado
Vangie Labalan
Alma Lerma as the mother of Ligaya
Ding Salvador
Manny Doria
Carlos Gonzales
Bomber Moran as Kutchero

Fernando Poe Jr. has an uncredited cameo appearance in the film.

Production

Sheman is actress Timmy Cruz's first film.

Release

Sheman was released on September 7, 1988.

Critical response

Lav Diaz, writing for the Manila Standard, gave the film a mixed review. Though he praised the early comedic scenes of De Leon parodying Panday (as portrayed by Fernando Poe Jr.) through his blacksmith character Pando, Diaz considered the comedic quality to drop as the film progressed and began to involve Sheman, stating that it then creates an "anti-climactic feeling by the end of the film".