Going thumbs-down on a well-intentioned movie like “Under the Same Moon” affords no pleasure; this movie would like to give a heart-tugging account of illegal immigrants and their struggles.
But it’s hokey from the start and, despite appealing performances, it steps in precisely the places you expect it to step. Memories of other such projects, notably “Maria Full of Grace” and “Trade,” are all too close.
The two main characters live in separate worlds, except for a weekly phone call. Rosario (Kate del Castillo) has been in California for four years to make money for her family; she works as a maid for a couple of well-off L.A. ladies.
She left her son Carlitos behind in Mexico, intending to send for him when she had enough bank. Now, Carlitos (Adrian Alonso) is 9 years old, and events within his household convince him to light out for the states on his own.
The movie has some built-in suspense: Can Carlitos trust the apparently nice Mexican-American woman (America Ferrara, from “Ugly Betty”) who offers to ferry him across; or the scruffy immigrant (the expert Eugenio Derbez, one of Mexico’s biggest stars) who wants to keep as far away from the kid as possible?
Director Patricia Riggen and screenwriter Ligiah Villalobos know their turf, and the details in the movie are convincing. They are so dedicated to bringing a human dimension to an easily simplified phenomenon that they make the whole thing seem bland and instructive.
Derbez is great, the little boy is appealing enough, and Kate del Castillo, who was also in “Trade,” is very attractive as the mother. Maybe a little too attractive, as her glamour threatens to throw the movie off. Still, her hesitant romance with a security guard at least gives the film a bit of specific character detail.
“Under the Same Moon” is aimed at the casual arthouse-goer, but it might be too firmly aimed. I felt my heartstrings being yanked around pretty shamelessly, and started to resent it. Bring your handkerchiefs anyway.
“Under the Same Moon”
Soapy: An illegal immigrant (Kate del Castillo) in L.A. is alarmed when her 9-year-old boy tries to make the trip from Mexico to the United States by himself. This well-intentioned movie is too aggressive with the heartstring-plucking, even if the details are convincing. (In Spanish and English, with English subtitles.)
Rated: PG-13 for subject matter
Now showing: opens today at Alderwood, Pacific Place, 7 Gables.
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