Strong cast, sense of humor sustain 'Saving Face'

You've probably seen "Saving Face" before. Or, certainly, aspects of it.

Like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "The Wedding Banquet" and dozens of other culture-clash pictures, newcomer Alice Wu's romantic comedy pits Old World values vs. the brave new world of changing sexual mores.

Sony Pictures Classics 'Saving Face' B- The verdict: Saved by its humor and appealing cast. Director: Alice Wu Starring: Michelle Krusiec, Joan Chen, Lynn Chen, Jin Wang, Guang Lan Koh Run time: 91 minutes Release date: May 27, 2005 Rating: R for language, sexuality, some nudity. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate "Saving Face"   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

In this case, two women are caught in the cultural crosscurrent.

One is Wil (Michelle Krusiec), a promising young surgeon at a Manhattan hospital who still goes back home to Flushing every Friday night to attend the weekly mixers — "the swim in the Chinese gene pool," she calls it. Inevitably, she must endure the snipes of gossipy old biddies who wonder why she's not married yet and the lineup of "nice" available men. Trouble is, Wil's looking for a nice available woman. And she just may have found one in Vivian (Lynn Chen), a flirtatious ballet dancer.

The other woman is Wil's mom, Ma (Joan Chen), a middle-aged widow who, incurring her father's great wrath, is pregnant. She won't name the father, and he won't let her stay in his home. So she moves in with her very reluctant daughter. Wil not only would rather be on her own, but resents her mother's refusal to acknowledge that Wil is gay. "I was a good mother. My daughter is not gay," is all she'll say on the subject.

The movie bounces back and forth between the ups and downs of Vivian and Wil's relationship and Ma's depressing social life. Considering the potential suitors for a middle-aged woman, its no wonder she'd prefer to stay home and watch Chinese soaps.

After the first 40 minutes or so, the film begins to seem uncertain — like a sitcom that's suddenly discovered it wants to be a screwball comedy as well. However, instead of speeding up, as screwball demands, the movie slows down, sometimes to the point of listlessness.

"Saving Face's" saving graces are its sense of humor and its strong cast. Lynn Chen has the sexy confidence and cupcake smile of Catherine Zeta-Jones. Krusiec is sympathetic, funny and more beautiful each time we see her. Joan Chen faces the challenge posed by last week's "The Perfect Man." As with Heather Locklear, it's difficult to imagine how someone like Chen would ever want for a man, no matter what her age.

Wu's feel for character is stronger than her direction — though she does get off some Manhattan-skyline shots worthy of the master, Woody Allen. And she's definitely got an eye for the telling detail. When a video store clerk directs Ma to the Chinese section, she's faced with multiple copies of "The Last Emperor" and "The Joy Luck Club."