ROMANCE SHINES AT TIMES, BUT IT'S NO 'TIFFANY'S'.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

The 1999 Spanish film ``I Will Survive'' never trots out the Gloria Gaynor disco classic of the same name, preferring instead to concentrate on another classic piece of American pop culture - ``Breakfast at Tiffany's.'' Marga, the heroine of ``Survive,'' relates that she once traveled to New York, bought croissants and ate them in front of the famous jewelry store, just like Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly did. It didn't cure Marga's case of the ``mean reds'' however, because, as she notes, ``the music was missing.''

Spanish filmmakers Alfonso Albacete and David Menkes don't make that mistake in ``Sobrevivire (I Will Survive),'' using Henry Mancini's ``Moon River'' not once, but twice at key moments in their movie. Chances are if you've seen ``Tiffany's'' 10 times (as Marga has), you'll like this romantic comedy about a bunch of lost urbanites looking for love in some mighty strange places.

Marga (Emma Suarez) is a video-store owner and vivacious single mother who has been lost since the untimely death of her first husband. Her friends include a Cuban expatriate, Rosa (Mirtha Ibarra), who watches Marga's son during the day in exchange for free rent; a well-meaning gay couple (Manuel Manquina and Alex Brendmuhl); and a back-stabbing best friend (Rosana Pastor).

The movie shifts into high gear when Marga meets Inaqui (Juan Diego Botto), a sculptor 10 years her junior. But that's not the problem. Inaqui is gay. But he loves ``Breakfast at Tiffany's,'' so there's hope.

The fragile courtship between Marga and Inaqui is genuinely affecting, and the two leads enjoy a palpable chemistry. Unfortunately, none of the movie's supporting characters registers as sharply, and the film lags whenever its primary lovers aren't together on screen.

Albacete, Menkes and co-writer Lucia Etxeberria have a good ear for dialogue, but demonstrate less certainty at creating a wealth of memorable characters or situations. ``Moon River'' will only take you so far, my huckleberry friend. When you're floating up that creek, it's best to bring a paddle, not a crutch from some other movie.

``SOBREVIVIRE (I WILL SURVIVE)''

(Rated R: language and sexual situations)

The stars: Emma Suarez, Juan Diego Bott.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Alfonso Albacete and David Menkes; screenplay by Albacete, Menkes and Lucia Etxeberria.

Running time: One hour, 42 minutes.

Playing: Laemmle's Pasadena Playhouse 7; Laemmle's Music Hall in Beverly Hills.

Our rating: Two and one half stars