Yellow

Eight Asian-American teens on the eve of high-school graduation have their tenuous friendship tested when one of them is robbed of the family's grocery receipts. Banding together to make up for their classmate's financial loss, the group scrounges for money to support their put-upon friend who's afraid to face his judgmental dad. Already seen as a failure in his father's eyes, the young man can't stand the thought of living down to his low opinion--even if it means resorting to desperate acts. Even though the cultural perspective here is a fresh one, the characters are a bit shallow and arbitrary, and despite the cover blurb, this passable film by no means earns comparison with American Graffiti. Optional. (T. Rich)