When 9-year-old Carlitos' (Adrian Alonso) grandmother dies and he decides to leave his small town in Mexico to reunite with his mother, we know that this is not a decision he makes lightly, nor is it one he will partake of recklessly. Carlitos -- plucky, intelligent, tough -- is a hero who both moves and inspires us, and the poignant "Under the Same Moon," while at times clichéd, does the same.

Screenwriter Ligiah Villalobos and director Patricia Riggen throw almost everything they can at the poor boy, from near suffocation in an impounded minivan to being sold into prostitution. He barely avoids death from pesticides while picking tomatoes and just misses apprehension by the police on more than one occasion. Young Alonso is an actor of often startling range, and it's a pleasure to follow him through these trials and tribulations.

Riggen believes in the story and has a deep respect for her characters. In the film's tear-jerking moments -- and they're there in abundance, usually telegraphed by a plaintive guitar -- she doesn't hover or beat you over the head, choosing instead to inject humor or cut to the next scene just as things get too sugary. Best of all, "Moon" is peopled with actors who bring verve to each role, especially Enrique (Eugenio Derbez), an itinerant worker who reluctantly agrees to help Carlitos and whose rapport with the boy is just perfect.

The film suffers most when focusing on the struggles of Carlitos' mother. As Rosario, Kate del Castillo is about as convincing a housecleaner as Jennifer Aniston would be; from her toned biceps to those manicured nails, Del Castillo doesn't look as if she's spent a minute scrubbing floors, much less the past four years. At times the bad guys are broad caricatures, like the scowling drug addict or the screechy white suburban housewife who takes advantage of Rosario. Whenever the story leaves Carlitos, we ache to get back to him.

"Under the Same Moon," despite some mature themes, is fine family entertainment. It is a crowd pleaser in the best sense of the word, compelling, humorous and profoundly moving. Ultimately, it is a story that reminds us that the world is full of strong, decent people who, when pressed into being saints, rise to the occasion.