The newest James L. Brooks film "Spanglish," starring Paz Vega, Tea Leoni and Adam Sandler, is a mix of languages, cultural influences, romantic encounters, family drama and heartwarming uncertainty.
Though advertised as a new Sandler flick, "Spanglish" is not really anything of the sort. The real main characters are Flor Moreno, played by a gorgeous and spot-on Paz Vega, and her pre-teen daughter Cristina, played by an adorable but sometimes overzealous Shelbie Bruce. The mother and daughter pair move to Los Angeles from Mexico several years after Moreno's husband leaves them, looking to start a new life. As Cristina enters her teen years, Flor decides to find one job that can pay her as much as her two previous jobs so she can keep an eye on her flowering young daughter.
This decision leads to her employment at the Clasky's sprawling LA suburban home, where restaurateur father John (Sandler), disturbingly neurotic mother Deborah (Leoni), daughter Bernice (Sarah Steele) and son Georgie (Ian Hyland) live with their alcoholic former jazz singer of a grandma (Cloris Leachman). A mixture of hilarious and serious familial dysfunction ensues. Flor finds herself in the middle of the Clasky's web of conflicts, and her awkward situation is exacerbated when the rich and doting Deborah begins to influence Cristina towards a life of which Flor disapproves.
Although she learns English towards the end of the film, Vega is kept somewhat in the periphery because the majority of her dialogue is in Spanish, and is more often than not translated by her bilingual cousin (Cecilia Suarez) and daughter. This detracts from her lead role. Although Vega and Bruce's beauty can be distracting, young Steele steals the show with her down-to-earth, poignant performance as the spunky, caring and insecure Clasky daughter.
Though "Spanglish" tries to be meaningful and significant and succeeds during the first two thirds of the movie, the ending leaves viewers without any conclusions to draw or messages with which to leave the theatre. "Spanglish" alternates between a tear-jerker, a comedy, a drama and a romance, but the film's last impression is as a culturally confused chick flick with heart.
"Spanglish" (128 minutes)is rated PG-13 for some sexual content and brief language.
Joanna Pinto-Coelho. Things you should know about Joanna: 1) She likes to eat bagel lox, her grandma's carrot cake, her mommy's chocolate chip cookies and filet mignon (medium rare). 2) She is half-Brazilian. 3) She is a gainfully employed member of the American workforce. 4) She will … More »
No comments.
Please ensure that all comments are mature and responsible; they will go through moderation.