There's fun to be had if you can accept Spanglish's dubious relationship to the actual universe.
Spanglish (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
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
Get This Movie
Reviews for Spanglish
This is a very B.H. 90210 notion of bridging the white-brown divide in California.
With his unerring eye for characters, even their hidden dark corners, Brooks makes Spanglish a rich blend of humor and heartbreak.
Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni are the husband and wife, but newcomer Paz Vega steals the film as Flor.
There is no shortage of zingers (mostly delivered by Evelyn), but the film lacks credibility.
You're constantly aware of how oddly these people are behaving, and the artificiality spoils the illusion.
It plays like an after-school special most of the time and contains some weird indication of being cobbled together.
Doesn't match Brooks' prior efforts because the characters are too broadly written.
An unusually shallow and facile work for Brooks, but the writing and the performances -- other than Leoni's -- keep us at least halfway involved.
A fitful, contrived, 131-minute guilt trip which fails to convince an audience to fully invest in any of its characters.
It works only fitfully, as if writer/director Brooks is flailing about trying to figure out what kind of movie he wants to make.
Easy to enjoy, if you're at all susceptible to this sort of thing, but it leaves you with nothing to think about, except for all the opportunities Brooks missed to make something worthwhile out of the material.
As in most sentimental yarns, this is a flick where credible characterization is held hostage to the demands of the plot and the needs of its message.
Now here is something I thought I would never see: an intelligent movie whose most mature, thoughtful character is played by Adam Sandler.
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.
Latest News for Spanglish
March 22, 2007:
Box Office Guru Preview: Six New Films Try to Shoot Down Spartans From #1 Spot
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:
Box Office Guru Preview: New Pics Challenge "Borat's" Mandate
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:
Critical Consensus: "Click" Doesn't, Ahem, Click; "Waist" Isn't Deep Enough
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"
MovieFone brings us a 6-month-early sneak peek at the Jim Carrey ("The Mask") / Tea Leoni ("Spanglish") comedy "Fun with Dick and Jane." Directed... More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Hollywood.com ponders whether or not an animated film could win Best Picture.

Richard Corliss previews the season's best offerings and hottest tickets.

The AV Club's Mike D'Angelo airs his beefs with Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



