Spanglish

This is a story about an undocumented Mexican woman named Flor (Paz Vega) who moves to the U.S. with her daughter. The story is told via flashback, through voice over by the daughter Cristina (Shelbie Bruce), who wants to attend a prestigious university.

As one might expect, there is a culture clash between Flor and the white family that employs her services for household help--especially as personified by Deborah (Tea Leoni), the mother. It should be noted that Leoni and the entire cast give fantastic performances, even if some of the portrayals are written as caricatures. Adam Sandler, who plays the father, John, is particularly fun to watch, because he mostly plays his character straight, without his usual comedic embellishments. I was most impressed by Sarah Steele, who plays the teenage daughter of Leoni and Sandler.

Much of the story is intended to be comedy, though it deals with social issues that go well beyond the disconnect caused by the fact that the two mothers do not speak a common language. The film has a definite perspective about the various cultural issues it addresses, but it is only partially convincing in its arguments.

I found the film to be disjointed, but that did not bother me. There is so much to appreciate in the story of the two families.

When I heard the title and learned that Adam Sandler was in this movie, I had very low expectations. Boy, was I surprised. This is a wonderful film, not at all the low-level fluff film I expected. All the female actresses, young and old, are absolutely terrific, and Adam Sandler does a respectable job in a semi-serious role. The writing is very clever, and the film will elicit laughter as well as tears. I found my self still thinking about the movie the next day, something that all too often doesn't happen with today's highly forgettable films. One caveat: this is really a movie for teens and up, not a kids' movie. Aside from a bad word or two and a (hilarious) sex scene, the underlying themes are quite adult. Enjoy!

Spanglish navigates between drama and comedy with a strong cast and moments that capture the complexity of human relationships. However, its narrative lacks a clear storyline, unfolding more like a mosaic of interactions and conflicts among its characters.

The story is narrated by Cristina, a 17-year-old girl, as a tender recollection of her mother, Flor. Through her Princeton admission essay, the film explores her family's immigration journey, adding layers of emotional manipulation to the narrative. Flor, who learns English to better connect with the family she works for, brings invaluable common sense to a household filled with chaos.

Deborah (Téa Leoni), meanwhile, is a neurotic woman going through an identity crisis after losing her job as a commercial designer. While her behavior often crosses the line-like when she buys her daughter Bernice smaller-sized clothes to "encourage" her to lose weight-Leoni manages to make Deborah humanly endearing, even when she constantly oversteps boundaries. Her lack of consideration gives Flor an opportunity to shine with her intelligence, while Bernice and John (Adam Sandler) eloquently express their indignation, allowing the audience to draw its own conclusions.

Adam Sandler delivers a surprisingly authentic performance as John, a chef hailed as the best in America by The New York Times. While one might expect his character to be a perfectionist tyrant with anger issues, John turns out to be a sweet and genuine man-reminiscent of the lovable characters Sandler is known for. His moments with his daughter Bernice, portrayed with freshness by Sarah Steele in her film debut, are heartfelt and stand out as some of the most memorable in the movie.

Though Flor is endearing as a mother and central figure in the story, Paz Vega's character occasionally feels unreal in her reactions. Some of her decisions seem overly idealized, which detracts slightly from the credibility of her role in such an intimate and human context.

Despite its gaps in plausibility, Spanglish remains compelling, mainly because of the emotional connection it fosters between its characters and the audience. While it's not always a cohesive story, its ability to depict the ups and downs of family life and cultural tensions makes it a worthwhile journey.

I saw Spanglish Saturday night (12/11/04). It was a preview and I haven't seen any critical reviews yet. I liked it enough to give it a 8 out of 10. It's a comedy with enough serious moments to give a person time to pause and think. Young girl emigrates with her mom from Mexico and settles in California. Mom (being in America illegally) settles as a housekeeper for Sandler and Leoni. She's baffled by the monied existence of the upper classes and how it effects her daughter. I thought that Paz Vega is excellent as the mom. Adam Sandler holds back and plays a compassionate father. Cloris Leachman is great and should be nominated for a Best Supporting Actress. The revelation to me is Tea Leoni. I thought that she was great as the waspish/blond mom/wife who feels that she's not getting enough respect at home.

Let me start by saying it's not your just another Adam Sandler movie. Though it has that undercurrent of humor, it's rich with human emotions. Allows and welcomes you to FEEL. Everything about this movie is just so right.

I am not going in to its plot or technicalities because there is no need to (only after watching this movie you'll understand what I am trying to say)

Paz Vega is so convincing (obviously) and outstanding as a caring mother who came to work and better life to US from Mexico with her daughter.

Adam Sandler plays what he plays in almost every movie. A guy with a golden heart. A good, understanding husband. A great father. Make us feel for his character. As always, he is good.

Tea Leoni is superb as frustrated, nagging wife.

Cloris Reachman provides few laughs and she's a delight to watch.

Highly recommend.