Easter Sunday

Joe declines the sitcom role because the casting call requires him to perform with a stereotypical Filipino accent, which he feels compromises his integrity and authenticity. The decision is made during Easter dinner when his agent calls with the offer, and Joe chooses to prioritize his family and cultural identity over career advancement.

Earlier, Joe expresses concern about cultural representation when his agent first mentions the audition.

Eugene borrows money from the gangster Dev Deluxe to fund a hype truck, which appears to be a merchandise venture. This decision puts the entire family at risk when Eugene cannot repay the debt, leading Dev's goons to pursue them.

Junior calls Joe a hypocrite during Easter dinner after witnessing the family argue about Joe's absence in their lives. Junior is hurt because Joe constantly misses important moments in his life due to work, yet preaches about family values. The argument escalates when Joe's past absences are thrown back at him.

Joe had already missed a school meeting with Junior earlier in the film.

Joe and Eugene attempt to sell stolen Manny Pacquiao boxing gloves to a wealthy contact named Marvin Ma, who refuses because he recognizes them as stolen. They later sell the gloves to Lou Diamond Phillips's character, known as 'The Jeweler,' who agrees to buy them and provides the cash needed to pay off Eugene's debt to Dev Deluxe.

The gloves were previously stolen from Dev's store.

When Dev Deluxe and his goons arrive at the Easter celebration and take Junior hostage, Joe creates a distraction while his uncle Arthur helps. Joe then dons Manny Pacquiao's boxing gloves and delivers a final punch that knocks Dev out cold. The police arrive immediately after and arrest Dev and his crew.

The boxing gloves were introduced earlier as a valuable item they were trying to sell.

After the heated argument at Easter dinner where Junior storms out and tensions peak, Joe encourages everyone to join in karaoke singing 'I Gotta Feeling.' This moment breaks the tension and helps the family reconcile, with Susan and Theresa beginning to bury the hatchet. It marks the emotional turning point before the climactic hostage situation.

After the chaos at the Easter celebration and Joe's heroic actions, a producer visits him in the hospital and decides to create a sitcom based on Joe and his family's genuine, unfiltered stories. Joe accepts the offer. Five months later, filming begins with Lou Diamond Phillips cast as Eugene.

While Joe and Eugene are being chased by Dev's goons and pulled over by Officer Vanessa, Tala fakes a labor emergency to distract the officer and help them avoid arrest. This wild lie allows them to escape the police confrontation and continue their attempt to raise money for Eugene's debt.

The conflict between Susan and Theresa stems from long-standing family tensions, including a disputed empanada recipe. During Easter dinner, Theresa accuses Susan of not being a good mom based on stories from Joe's childhood, which escalates the argument. The two eventually reconcile during the karaoke session.

The dispute over the empanada recipe is introduced during the park picnic.