Spanglish
(2004)
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With SPANGLISH, writer/director/producer James L. Brooks (AS GOOD AS IT GETS) unfurls yet another accomplished, tender, romantic comedy. Celebrated chef John Clasky (Adam Sandler) is the patriarch of the Clasky household, but the mood swings of his hypersensitive wife, Deborah (Tea Leoni), are what really runs the show. When the Claskys hire the beautiful Flor (Paz Vega) to be their maid, their already rocky relationship faces some even bigger boulders. Spanish-speaking Flor is a sincere, loving single mother whose daughter, Christina (Shelbie Bruce), receives lavish displays of affection from Deborah. Meanwhile, Deborah neglects her own son and daughter in much the same way that her self-absorbed, alcoholic mother, Evelyn (Cloris Leachman), neglected her. Eventually Deborah crosses a line when she betrays her husband with the real estate broker who is helping her search for a beach house. Faced with this challenge, John and Flor, who share a clear attraction to one another, get the chance to explore their feelings. Brooks populates his film with wholly believable characters. On first glance they may seem like broad caricatures (especially in the case of the roles played by Leoni and Leachman), but the characters subvert viewers' expectations by turning into full-fledged, three-dimensional humans by the end of the film. As in PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE, Sandler delivers a performance that shows his wide range of talent. |
Spanish and English-speaking cultures collide to poignant effect in this astute comedy drama from As Good as It Gets director James L Brooks. An engaging film that's anchored by strong performances, it sees Mexican single mother Flor (Paz Vega) become housekeeper to a rich but troubled LA couple (played by Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni). At first unable to communicate in English, she's thrown into an alien world, whose emotional mechanics she finds hard to understand. Initially, Leoni's shrill and highly-strung Deborah is as jarring to watch as she is for Flor to experience, which gives the picture a misleading sense of farce. Fortunately, the tale quickly finds its level, comfortably balancing wry laughs and uplifting sentiment. The contrast between Flor's pure heart and Deborah's unthinking bluntness is especially moving, highlighted perfectly by Flor's gentle interaction with her employers' daughter (a wonderful Sarah Steele). But it's Sandler's turn as the unhappy husband that's the real surprise, as he manages to be both effortlessly natural and quietly charming.