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Spanglish
Director: James L. Brooks
Writer: James L. Brooks
Stars: Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, and Paz Vega
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: PG
If you're going into Adam Sandler's latest movie, Spanglish, and expecting a side-splitting good time, then prepare to be shocked. Sandler isn't a stranger to experimenting with more 'serious' scripts, having done films such as 'Punch Drunk Love' and even the bittersweet '50 First Dates' in recent years, but Spanglish is perhaps the first film in Sandler's career that steers clear of using his trademark 'temper tantrums'.
Instead, audiences are treated to an interesting mixture of cross-cultural drama and light-hearted comedy. There's none of the blatantly crude vomit or sex jokes in this film, instead replaced with witty lines and the occasional laugh at the expense of Spanglish's use of the Mexican/American cultural barrier. As an audience member, you're not able to recover from one joke before you're hit with a far more serious portion of the film. Make no mistakes, the movie's billing as a comedy/drama means that there is plenty of serious moments that deserve your attention. From the identity crisis of thirteen year old Bernice (played with amazing sincerity by newcomer Sarah Steele) to the ongoing marriage difficulties between John (Sandler) and Deborah (Leoni)- the film focuses more on the day to day dramas of a family, more than trying to ween cheap laughs from the audience.
If you go into this film expecting it to be a romance with a happy-ending, you'll also be surprised. While the chemistry between Vega (making her English language debut) and Sandler is substantially powerful, their 'romance' is far from the film's central plotline. Indeed, we are treated to more of Vega's relationship with her daughter (played by Shelbie Bruce), then we are of Sandler and Vega's romance. When the romance does come, as it inevitably would, viewers may be refreshed or disappointed by the form it takes. There's no corny lines or syrrupy moments of romantic fantasy. There's no light-hearted comment to break the mood, nor does Vega feature in a Happy Gilmore-esque dream sequence wearing next to nothing. The romance in this film is far more true to life, if not a little more dramatic. And ultimately, while the film's ending may not satisfy like a perfect happy ending would have, deep down you know it's how things should work out.
Was I impressed by Spanglish? Will I rush out to buy it when it is released on DVD? I'm still unsure. The film was capitivating and enchanting, to be sure, but in the memorability stakes it doesn't rate too highly. Paz Vega is easily the highlight of the film, and not just for the visual beauty of the woman. Her acting is top shelf, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Hollywood offers fly in. The aforementioned Sarah Steele is also a pleasure to watch, whilst Tea Leoni also gives a stirring performance. As a Sandler fan, I'm loathe to say it, but he is perhaps the least impressive in this film. He seems somehow out of his element playing a 'real' character, one without any noticeable quirks. Cloris Leachman, playing Leoni's alcoholic mother, is a show-stealer in her own right. Moreso than Sandler, her character provides the film with the comic relief it requires to avoid becoming a too serious social commentary.
Writer and director James L. Brooks' script is well conceived and wonderfully expressed. As mentioned already, the emotional journies undertaken by the characters within the film or both believable and accessible. A lot of teenage girls should be able to relate to the identity crisis of Sarah Steele, whilst I'm sure a lot of married couples can relate to the 'cooling of affections' between Sandler and Leoni. Without excessive swearing, low brow humour, or nudity- the film provides families with something they can all relate to, except perhaps the younger of children- who will be disappointed by the film's lack of gags.
Ultimately, Spanglish is a film worthy of your attention, but perhaps not worthy of repeated viewing. It's a pleasant way to while away two hours, but far from an 'all time top ten'.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Director: James L. Brooks
Writer: James L. Brooks
Stars: Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, and Paz Vega
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: PG
If you're going into Adam Sandler's latest movie, Spanglish, and expecting a side-splitting good time, then prepare to be shocked. Sandler isn't a stranger to experimenting with more 'serious' scripts, having done films such as 'Punch Drunk Love' and even the bittersweet '50 First Dates' in recent years, but Spanglish is perhaps the first film in Sandler's career that steers clear of using his trademark 'temper tantrums'.
Instead, audiences are treated to an interesting mixture of cross-cultural drama and light-hearted comedy. There's none of the blatantly crude vomit or sex jokes in this film, instead replaced with witty lines and the occasional laugh at the expense of Spanglish's use of the Mexican/American cultural barrier. As an audience member, you're not able to recover from one joke before you're hit with a far more serious portion of the film. Make no mistakes, the movie's billing as a comedy/drama means that there is plenty of serious moments that deserve your attention. From the identity crisis of thirteen year old Bernice (played with amazing sincerity by newcomer Sarah Steele) to the ongoing marriage difficulties between John (Sandler) and Deborah (Leoni)- the film focuses more on the day to day dramas of a family, more than trying to ween cheap laughs from the audience.
If you go into this film expecting it to be a romance with a happy-ending, you'll also be surprised. While the chemistry between Vega (making her English language debut) and Sandler is substantially powerful, their 'romance' is far from the film's central plotline. Indeed, we are treated to more of Vega's relationship with her daughter (played by Shelbie Bruce), then we are of Sandler and Vega's romance. When the romance does come, as it inevitably would, viewers may be refreshed or disappointed by the form it takes. There's no corny lines or syrrupy moments of romantic fantasy. There's no light-hearted comment to break the mood, nor does Vega feature in a Happy Gilmore-esque dream sequence wearing next to nothing. The romance in this film is far more true to life, if not a little more dramatic. And ultimately, while the film's ending may not satisfy like a perfect happy ending would have, deep down you know it's how things should work out.
Was I impressed by Spanglish? Will I rush out to buy it when it is released on DVD? I'm still unsure. The film was capitivating and enchanting, to be sure, but in the memorability stakes it doesn't rate too highly. Paz Vega is easily the highlight of the film, and not just for the visual beauty of the woman. Her acting is top shelf, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Hollywood offers fly in. The aforementioned Sarah Steele is also a pleasure to watch, whilst Tea Leoni also gives a stirring performance. As a Sandler fan, I'm loathe to say it, but he is perhaps the least impressive in this film. He seems somehow out of his element playing a 'real' character, one without any noticeable quirks. Cloris Leachman, playing Leoni's alcoholic mother, is a show-stealer in her own right. Moreso than Sandler, her character provides the film with the comic relief it requires to avoid becoming a too serious social commentary.
Writer and director James L. Brooks' script is well conceived and wonderfully expressed. As mentioned already, the emotional journies undertaken by the characters within the film or both believable and accessible. A lot of teenage girls should be able to relate to the identity crisis of Sarah Steele, whilst I'm sure a lot of married couples can relate to the 'cooling of affections' between Sandler and Leoni. Without excessive swearing, low brow humour, or nudity- the film provides families with something they can all relate to, except perhaps the younger of children- who will be disappointed by the film's lack of gags.
Ultimately, Spanglish is a film worthy of your attention, but perhaps not worthy of repeated viewing. It's a pleasant way to while away two hours, but far from an 'all time top ten'.
Rating: 6 out of 10
