It might be easy to overlook the indie production "Save Me," but it would be a shame. The movie may not be perfect, but it has its own modest pleasures, including terrific lead performances and a genuinely compassionate tone all the more welcome for its polarizing subject.

Mark (Chad Allen), who is gay, attempts suicide after an anonymous-sex-and-drug binge that leads his conservative Christian brother to enroll him in a 12-step residential "rehabilitation" facility, whose leader, Gayle (Judith Light), specializes in "sexual brokenness." Mark initially resists the ministrations of Gayle and her husband, Ted (Stephen Lang), but he gradually begins to work the program, until his friendship with fellow resident Scott (the adorable Robert Gant) blossoms into something more.

There's nothing surprising about the plot of "Save Me." What is surprising is how the filmmakers resist caricature, especially of their Christian subjects. This is especially true when it comes to Gayle, who emerges not as a homophobic monster but a woman grappling with her own deep-seated issues. "Save Me" is a particularly flattering showcase for Gant, best known for his work on the TV show "Queer as Folk" and ready for a big-screen breakout.

-- Ann Hornaday (Dec. 5, 2008)

Contains a brief scene of sexuality and drug abuse, brief profanity and adult themes.