Crying Ladies

Its most winning attribute is a kind of sloppy, unassuming friendliness, a likability aptly reflected in its characters.

High-spirited and good-natured, Crying Ladies never loses touch with reality.

Best appreciated for the winning performances of its trio of stars, who convey their characters' desperation with humor and poignancy.

There aren't many surprises as the story unfolds in soap-opera fashion, with a happy ending for all concerned.

The nonstop jumping around undercuts Meily's momentum, especially in the film's overly languorous final third. Still, there's a refreshing optimism fueling his take on working-class life, as if Meily views friendship and neighborly generosity as currencies equal to cold, hard cash.

Sentimental and predictable, Meily's sweet-natured feature-film debut was hugely popular in the Philippines; its day-to-day details will be exotic to non-Filipino audiences but the characters' dilemmas are couched in the universal language of sitcom complications and fortuitous resolutions.