Phony bourgeois film.
Spanglish (2004)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:157
Fresh:82
Rotten:75
Average Rating:5.9/10
Consensus: Vega shines, but the heartwarming elements feel phony, as though they belonged in a sitcom, and there is a mean streak underneath it all.
Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] some sexual content and brief language
Runtime: 2 hrs 11 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Dec 17, 2004 Wide
Box Office: $42,044,321
Synopsis: 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... 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. [More]
Starring: Adam Sandler, Paz Vega, Tea Leoni, Cloris Leachman
Starring: Adam Sandler, Paz Vega, Tea Leoni, Cloris Leachman
Director: James L. Brooks
Director: James L. Brooks
Screenwriter: James L. Brooks
Producer: Richard Sakai, Joan Bradshaw, Julie Ansell, James L. Brooks
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
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Reviews for Spanglish
This is a deeply unpleasant movie masquerading as a heartfelt social commentary on life in these United States (or at least in the wealthy republic of Beverly Hills).
Brooks' slice of life succeeds, because every single character is so well drawn and enjoyable ... that it's a pleasure to join them for a visit.
[Brooks] opts for soothing fakery and empty multicultural rhetoric to send us home feeling good about ourselves and partaking of the surplus smugness that he clearly has to spare.
Instead of a classic along the lines of As Good as It Gets; Spanglish is merely a pleasant diversion. Sandler's surprise turn makes it worth a viewing.
Brooks plops moms and dads and kids in the middle of a muddled message movie, losing his characters, his wit and, worst of all, his point.
James L. Brooks attempts to take what is essentially a slightly better than mediocre sit-com and transform it into something more profound. He fails.
The film gets better as it goes along ... and all the characters, including Deborah, become more interesting and appealing as we get to know them better.
'Spanglish' is one of those films that has the potential for being terrific but falls short in clarity and focus.**
There's a distinct lack of chemistry here and a strong whiff of moral sermonizing that undermines the romantic impact.
The characters are exquisitely drawn and the performances delicately nuanced.
Deserves an audience because much of Brooks' writing is still strong and fresh.
Meandering, redundant, and shapeless – one gets the feeling that with discipline and focus, a good film could easily have been carved out of all this earnesty.
What remains of Spanglish is another typical Brooks creation: a film of enormous wealth and beauty that just needs another fine tune to make it appear effortless.
Latest News for Spanglish
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A half-dozen new soldiers enter the marketplace this weekend trying to topple the kingdom of "300" which has reigned supreme at the box office for the past two weeks. More...
November 09, 2006:
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This weekend, multiplexes hope to cram in lots of moviegoers thanks to a wide selection of new films. Six movies open or expand nationally on Friday making for what will be one... More...
June 22, 2006:
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This week at the movies, we've got a magical remote control ("Click") and a father who's trying to rescue his son ("Waist Deep"). Will the critics dig... More...
June 24, 2005:
Have Some Early "Fun with Dick and Jane"
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