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'The Motel': School of one-night stands

There is no lack of teenage coming-of-age movies, but The Motel covers familiar ground differently enough that it is worth viewer attention.

Palm Pictures 'The Motel' B The verdict: A wry, observant coming-of-age tale about a chubby Chinese-American boy at a fleabag motel. Director: Michael Kang Starring: Jeffrey Chyau, Sung Kang, Jade Wu, Samantha Futerman, Alexis Chang Run time: 76 minutes Release date: June 28, 2006 Rating: Not rated, but contains sexual situations, language, and brief violence. On the web Official movie site Rate 'The Motel'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Based on a novel by Ed Lin, adapted by first-time screenwriter-director Michael Kang, it is the story of a sensitive, chubby, 13-year-old Chinese-American boy, aptly named Ernest (Jeffrey Chyau, talented beyond his years), conscripted into the family business. After school each day, he cleans the rooms at a seedy motel that rents by the hour and attracts a clientele with no interest in a good night's rest.

Ernest dreams of becoming a writer and learns he has won honorable mention in a contest, but he is belittled by his supremely practical mother (a grim, baseball-bat-wielding Jade Wu), who is busy chasing the deadbeats from her establishment.

Sex is in the air, and Ernest is at that age of natural curiosity about the matter. Ernest has lustful thoughts toward Christine (Samantha Futerman), a waitress at a nearby Chinese restaurant, but is unsure of how to act upon them.

Unfortunately, he looks up to a Korean motel guest (Sung Kang), who gives him a dubious education in how to drive a car and how to romance women.

Events lead to a somewhat violent climax, but, for the most part, The Motel is a gentle, well-observed slice of life that might take you back to your feelings when you were Ernest's age.