Wo lai zi Niu Yue

The story is a simple and familiar one. A woman lugs her daughter from New York to Malaysia and leaves her 11-year-old rambunctious girl with her estranged father, while she goes to China to work. A severe clash of cultural identities and language barriers ensues but all will be well by the last act.

The story is emotionally manipulative and drips of near-choking schmaltz. Lots of over- acting. Nuance is not its suit and subtlety is thrown out the window. Pacing issues, clunky scenes, some major broad-strokes and it begs you to be forgiving. But the movie has a funny way of sneaking up on you, puts you in a warm cocoon of nostalgia and leaves you in happy tears. It wears a big heart on its sleeves.

The major coup is getting Ti Lung to be in the role of the grandpa. Even though he is 69, his screen presence anchors the film. I love the little girl and she looks the part even though she sounds nothing like the part (I detect no American accent on her).

Not a bad way to spend 2 hours. A pity it isn't very memorable and only emotionally resonating for lowest common denominator.