Movie Review: The Shower

Story: How do you say predictable in Chinese? Director Zhang Yang's heartwarming, albeit sappy tribute to a part of Chinese culture -- the communal baths -- that seems to be coming to an end in the modern China. The successful older son returns home from the big city thinking (wrongfully) that his father has died. His father is alive and still operating the communal bath with his younger son who is mentally challenged. (The Chinese translation still used the word retarded in the subtitles. I have a feeling the Chinese are not that sensitive to politically correct phraseology). Along with lots of water, parables, life lessons and colorful characters we get a peek at this way of life, that has endured for thousands of years in the process of dying. But, as in a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, there are always upsides to every tragedy. There are absolutely no surprises in this film yet I still found it enjoyable. Go figure!

Acting: Almost everyone seemed to be right out of Beijing central casting.

Pets: Two crickets

Visual Art: None

Soundtrack: Don't remember

Theater Audience: Seven people. A mixed group. We stayed through the credits but the only words we could read were Dolby Stereo.

Sappy Factor: Sappy factor as fluid as all of the water in the baths.

Quirky Meter: 2

Tissue Usage: Welling eyes.

Oscar Worthy: No

Length: 92 wet minutes.

LOBO HOWLS: 6