CJ7

NEW YORK (CNS) -- "To get rich is glorious!" So communist China's late leader, Deng Xiaoping often declared, and most of the characters in "CJ7" (Sony Classics), a generally enchanting, though somewhat flawed comic fable set in a contemporary Chinese city, would seem to agree.

Two prominent exceptions are Ti (Stephen Chow), a hardworking widowed construction worker, and his naive schoolboy son, Dicky (thoroughly engaging Xu Jiao). As Dicky explains to the derision of his classmates, his father -- whom he unapologetically identifies as a "coolie" -- holds that there is no shame in poverty so long as one is honorable and productive.

Ti, we later learn, is not entirely without ambition, since he goes without in order to give his son the advantages of a private education.

Yet Dicky, with his crudely repaired shoes, often dirty face and lack of cool toys, is shunned by his money- and gadget-worshipping peers. All this changes, however, when Ti, searching a garbage dump for a pair of discarded sneakers for Dicky, finds a green plastic orb that transforms itself into a doglike critter with supernatural powers. As Ti has failed to recognize, but Dicky quickly intuits, the creature, whom he names CJ7, is in fact an alien.

Although his curious pet wins Dicky newfound respect, it fails to live up to his unrealistic fantasies. Instead of scaring off bullies or inventing special glasses to help him cheat on exams, CJ7 seems intent on improving life for Dicky and his father by restoring nearly rancid food and repairing a broken fan.

Only after a family crisis takes place, though, does the cuddly companion prove its ultimate worth. Chow, who also wrote and directed, hits the mark both humorously and dramatically, and his film also satirizes cut-throat materialism in contemporary China. Our only caveat is that the positive message and humane, even specifically Christian, values are undercut by a few distasteful scenes that focus on the alien's doggy poop. In Chinese. Subtitles.

The film contains occasional crude language, comic book violence and scatological humor, though is probably acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops