‘Wall’ Is No Barrier to Comedy : East Meets West in Wry Look at Cultures

Can you really go home again? Ignoring the warnings of Thomas Wolfe, that’s just what Leo Fang tries to do in “A Great Wall,” a mostly grinning take on cultural differences and familial confusion.

Leo (played by the 1986 film’s director-writer Peter Wang) is the main character in “A Great Wall,” which screens Wednesday night as the second installment in the “Multiculturalism Goes to the Movies!” series, a joint project between the city of Irvine and UC Irvine.

He’s the father of a clan living in San Francisco and lustily gobbling up all things American. When Leo gets into trouble at work and a vacation seems like a good idea, he decides to visit relatives in mainland China. Why not? The kids would get to see the Old World and he’d get to see his sister, Mrs. Chao (Shen Guanglan).

Years have elapsed since he has been home, but Leo believes everything will work out in the end. Well, they eventually do, but not before Eastern traditions butt up against Western attitudes and small family tensions keep roiling the waters.

Wang, who co-wrote the movie with Shirley Sun, could have approached this culture clash with a pensive brow but instead comes at it fully amused.

What he thinks is the most funny, and the most interesting, is how Chinese view Americans and how Western ideals keep seeping into the society.

The picture brings that out through the interaction of the two families, especially Leo’s son, Paul (Kelvin Han Yee), and Paul’s Chinese cousin, Lili Chao (Li Quinqin).

Paul digs his life in San Francisco and thinks the old ways are, at best, quaint. Lili, while holding on to many of the traditions, is beginning to feel the pull of the West. The two find something of a common ground, even as the adults seem more flummoxed by the experience.

Along the way, Wang (who may be remembered as the goofy fry-cook in Wayne Wang’s “Chan Is Missing”) tosses out one ironic scene after another. A Chinese band plays “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain.” The Chaos are baffled by talk of venereal disease, so insular are their lives. And when Luciano Pavarotti is mentioned, the Chaos assume he’s America’s favorite rock star because the Chinese censors forbid any music news.

All this could come across as precious or overdone, but only one scene really is. When Paul and a boy vying for Lili’s affections compete in a final Ping-Pong match, the passage is phony, a setup for a happy ending.

But until then, Wang’s touch is generally effective; he doesn’t make a big noise about all that’s going on.

And yes, the closing scenes are corny. Through everything, the Fangs and Chaos find a mystical balance and can now leap any obstacle, including the Great Wall of cultural misunderstanding. That may be simplistic and naive, but “A Great Wall,” for the most part, is not.

* What: Peter Wang’s “A Great Wall.”

* When: Wednesday at 7 p.m.

* Where: The UC Irvine Student Center Crystal Cove Auditorium.

* Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (405) Freeway to Jamboree Road and head south to Campus Drive and take a left. Turn right on Bridge Road and take it into the campus.

* Wherewithal: $2 to $4.

* Where to call: (714) 724-6884 or (714) 824-5588.

MORE SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Short Films From Latin America

(NR) A series of short films features various styles, traits and emotions of Latin American men and women. Tonight’s five films, at the Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, will focus on the “heroes and healers” of Latin America. “My Brother Fidel,” “The Most Holy Brotherhood,” The Cross of Gil,” “Barbosa” and “Holy Father and Gloria” start at 7:30 p.m. Included with museum admission: $4.50 for adults, $3 for seniors and students and $1.50 for ages 5 to 12. Children under 5 get in free. (714) 567-3642. Presented by the American Federation of Arts.

Alice

(PG-13) Woody Allen’s story of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who finally takes charge of her life will be shown Friday at UC Irvine’s Crystal Cove Auditorium at 7 and 9 p.m. $4 general admission, $3 for UCI faculty, seniors and non-UCI students and $2 for UCI students. (714) 824-5588. Sponsored by the UCI Film Society.

Student Film and Video Festival

(PG-13) This festival, sponsored by the Orange Coast College Film/Video Department, is celebrating its 25th year. The two-hour program will be shown Friday at 8 p.m. at OCC’s Fine Arts Recital Hall, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. $3 donation requested. (714) 432-5922.