Marvin's choices for roles certainly parallel Leonardo's own gutsy picks. In Marvin's Star Drama Theater, he dictated his preferred characters---a retardate (shades of Leonardo's Gilbert Grape), a homosexual (a more overt Total Eclipse), an amputee Quiapo beggar, and a Chaplinesque simpleton. In Maala-ala Mo Kaya last Christmas, he did a role reminiscent of the Leonardo's part in "Marvin's Room" opposite Ms. Charo Santos's Diane Keaton-inspired character. In other previous TV roles, Marvin has become a witch's ostracized son (Maala-ala), a criminal's teenage live-in partner (Calvento), a ship stowaway who gets thrown in the waters (Calvento), and an Ozone victim (Calvento).
In Ipaglaban Mo 2 The Movie, he grabbed a smaller part simply because it is the most complex, least predictable character- a reluctant guilt-ridden killer who finally tells on his co-conspirators. "I am excited by roles in the gray area between good and evil--- the bida/kontrabida, the saint/sinner, that one character you love but hate so much," Marvin explains.
In the future, Marvin wants to do even odder parts: a serial psychokiller, a ghost in love, an Igorot. He sees that the nearest local role model around is the young young Christopher de Leon-teamed up with Nora then, yet powerful enough to handle his own acting triumphs.
In comedy, Marvin is a raw Michael J. Fox. (The touted new William Martinez is anything but William). Marvin's timing is Wlliam-light and frisky, yet more sincere and non-caricature. Check him out as the only non-mugging actor in Onli in da Pilipins, and the comic Romeo in his upcoming Kung Ayaw mo Wag mo! from Star Cinema.
Marvin's mold is more accurate than a boy-next-door image for the current 90's teen Pinoy. He is post-hiphop, pre-debonair, masa-Gen X: that dividing line that combines young manhood with childlike excitement in the urban Pinoy milieu. He is an original in the sense that he is more your Jollibee-food attendant next-door, your katropa-next-door, your idol-kuya next door who may not have the money but decides to work part-time to make the gimiks, your gasoline attendant who sneaks off to the garage to study algebra. Marvin is not an aspirational idol; you can smell and touch him: he is the youngest FX driver in the queue, he delivers your next pizza, he is the best poor young man you can bring home to your mother. Marvin's secret is in being a reachable hero. "Pwede mong isama sa gimik."