Movie Reviews
“Spanglish” has a wonderful script fueling it. Brooks understands human drama and the comedy that sometimes accidentally comes out of it. He understands how we get so caught up in life that we forget to just live it. And here, he produces some of the best performances he’s ever gotten, even better than “As Good as It Gets”.
Adam Sandler is John Clasky, a talented chef at a fancy restaurant. His drama comes from the stresses of work (striving to become a four star restaurant), and the stresses of home (dealing with his obtuse and neurotic wife). His wife Deborah (Tea Leoni) blames her neuroticism on her mother who was “alcoholic and extremely promiscuous” in her early years. Her mother (Cloris Leachman) is drunk most of the time. But she is also very true.
Deborah is looking for a maid to keep the house in order. She hires Flor (Paz Vega), a Mexican immigrant that speaks no English. We learn of her daughter, Christina, who also narrates the movie. As Flor (roll the ‘r’) acclimates to the Clasky house, she reveals her true self to us. She feels for Bernice, John and Deb’s daughter, who has problems accepting herself. Even Deborah has trouble accepting Bernice.
Sandler gives his best performance in a comedy or drama. He embodies that nice-guy personality. Leoni does very well, maybe going over the top in a scene or two, but compensating with some very tough drama and even physical comedy. Leachman steals nearly every scene she is in as she provides for vast immaturity and vast wisdom at the same time.
The one that really got me was Paz Vega as Flor. She is making her debut here, and wastes no time establishing that she is a natural. Not to mention her immaculate beauty. Vega may be one of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen. As John puts it, “I don’t want to blink so I don’t miss anything.”
“Spanglish” is about bridging the gap of two languages and cultures, and how that bridge shows the way to true love and true acceptance. It’s very touching, a film that holds its breath and waits for you to breathe with it. It relishes every emotion, and there are a great many of them. Perhaps the only flaw is its excess in story, which is so minute that I shouldn’t even mention it. *** ˝