Abah Saya, Uncle Mike

Some films do not need spectacle to move you. They do not need explosions, grand effects or glossy soundtracks to demand your attention. Abah Saya Uncle Mike belongs to that rare category of cinema that comes in without fuss and then slowly unravels its heart until you find yourself deeply invested, almost unwilling to look away. This film is based on a true story.

At its core, this is not simply about Uncle Mike and his three adopted children. It is a reflection on what it means to live together in this messy, multicultural Malaysia of ours. The film reminds us that culture and faith are not the only bridges we can walk on. What matters is the individual. And when you strip everything else away, kindness is the only currency that holds value for us. There is something profoundly beautiful in that reminder. Something that makes you want to believe again in the country we often take for granted.

For some viewers, the opening might feel like an advertisement. It has the warmth and tender rhythm of those Petronas Raya ads that always try to make us cry. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Abah Saya Uncle Mike is more than just a commercial message stretched into two hours. It does not exist just to push a tear or two. It truly wants to tell a story, to honour Uncle Mike and his children and to hold up a mirror to our community.

The performances are what anchor this film. Idan Aedan has never been this good. He wears despair like a second skin and you can see it in the way his eyes carry weight far heavier than his years. The slump of his shoulders and the way he drags he walks, they speak of burdens words cannot capture. There are moments where he stands alone and you feel every ounce of loneliness he is forced to endure.

The younger actors, Merah Muhaimin and Umar Shakur are newcomers who we feel have what it takes to become great actors. Merah as Rasyid burns with a bottled-up anger that he cannot quite contain. He feels like a storm that never finds a shore. Umar Shakur has fewer lines but his quietness carries meaning. His silences are not empty but they are loaded. To see such young actors hold the screen with this kind of raw honesty is actually refreshing.

And then there is Andy Teh as Uncle Mike. His presence is a balm. His voice, his gentle Malay accent and his stillness, it all fits perfectly into the soul of a man who carries more than just responsibility. He becomes a father, not by blood but by choice. And it is in his warmth that the children and we as the audience find comfort and safety.

Even the small details shine. The product placements for Mirinda and 7UP deserve praise because they never once feel like advertisements. Instead, they become props with purpose in the story. It is rare for local cinema to get this balance right, but here it works as naturally as a conversation over dinner.

Still, Abah Saya Uncle Mike has things to improve. The struggles of the children sometimes repeat themselves a little too often. The hardships land but they echo too similarly in the first half. It makes you wish for more complexity and more variety in their pain. And when the final act arrives, it feels abrupt almost as if the film decided it was time to wrap up and rushed to the finish line. It does not ruin the journey but it does leave you wishing for more.

Even with these flaws, what the film achieves is something many bigger productions fail to capture which is sincerity. It carries a big heart in a small frame and by the end, it asks us not just to sympathize but to also reflect. Reflect on kindness, on cultural beauty, on the strength that comes when humanity comes first.

Verdict: Abah Saya Uncle Mike is a tender and emotional piece of cinema that captures the strength of kindness and the beauty of living interculturally. With powerful performances, especially from Idan Aedan and Andy Teh, it breathes sincerity into every scene. Its heart is undeniable. Its sincerity is present. This is a story that will make you remember and above all, reflect on what it means to be human in a world that too often forgets.

This movie was inspired by True story of how uncle Mike raised and adopt three Muslim children. And boy what can I say this movie was really Mixed up with Sad. Happy. Emotional. Frustrated. All together In blender. You can feel it the deeply emotional of this movie. Script and acting are really good. The camera are decent too. Especially these three children. Their acting was absolutely wonderful. A solid 7 for this movie.