Spanglish
2004, Comedy/Drama, 2h 10m
168 Reviews 100,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Paz Vega shines, and Adam Sandler gives a performance of thoughtfulness and depth, but Spanglish is ultimately undermined by sitcommy plotting and unearned uplift. Read critic reviews
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Where to watch
Spanglish Videos
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Movie Info
Mexican immigrant and single mother Flor Moreno (Paz Vega) finds housekeeping work with Deborah (Téa Leoni) and John Clasky (Adam Sandler), a well-off couple with two children of their own. When Flor admits she can't handle the schedule because of her daughter, Cristina (Shelbie Bruce), Deborah decides they should move into the Clasky home. Cultures clash and tensions run high as Flor and the Claskys struggle to share space while raising their children on their own, and very different, terms.
Cast & Crew
Adam Sandler
John Clasky
John Clasky
Téa Leoni
Deborah Clasky
Deborah Clasky
Paz Vega
Flor Moreno
Flor Moreno
Cloris Leachman
Evelyn Wright
Evelyn Wright
Shelbie Bruce
Cristina Moreno
Cristina Moreno
Sarah Steele
Bernice 'Bernie' Clasky
Bernice 'Bernie' Clasky
Critic Reviews for Spanglish
Audience Reviews for Spanglish
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Sep 03, 2016Guising itself as a family comedy, Spanglish is an incredibly offensive film that promotes prejudice and intolerance against white America. The story follows a Mexican single mother who comes to America (illegally) with her daughter and takes a job as a housekeeper to a rich, white family in LA; but she soon becomes concerned that her job is leading her daughter to become Americanized. The not so subtle message being, don't accept help from the white man and resist integration with American culture. The mother is portrayed as heroic for tearing her daughter away from her white friends and for rejecting a scholarship for her daughter to attend a private school. Meanwhile the white family is shown to be debaucherous; with fat, lazy children, a cheating wife, and a weak-willed husband. Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, and Paz Vega lead the cast and play their roles well-enough; but the film fails them, as the characters are written to serve the heavy handed political messages. Propagandist tripe, Spanglish is shameless and insulting.Dann M Super Reviewer
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Apr 02, 2012I don't get the hate for this film, but one for certain is that I love it. The story is about a struggling mother (Paz Vega) and her daughter moves to America in California in hopes of having financial security. She ends up living with a Wealthy couple. One is insecure (Tea Leoni) and spends her time in a mental hospital, and one is a chef (Adam Sandler), and his career turns upside down after his restaurant received a 4 star review. The plot was well-written from start to finish. Although I'm not really a big fan of Sandler, he did prove all of us wrong about him being the worst actor. If only he acted this way in most of his movies, then everyone will think of him as a genius. Perhaps he should quit producing and stick to acting. Paz Vega did a terrific job on her part, and she deserved that Gloden Globe. Tea Leoni did pretty well just like in most of the movies she had been in. This movie is underrated and deserved to top the box office, but I guest the movie has to be more "entertaining" in order to be well-known for the world. It may not be entertaining, but at least it's a well-developed movie with a well-detailed story, well-performed actors, and everything else for that matter. Funny but also heartwarming as well.Giovanni C Super Reviewer
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Jul 12, 2011a comedy mixed with taste and laughs of it's own! James L. Brooks has crafted a terrific comedy that is hillarious, yet with a sense of heartbroke. adam sandler is terrific and hillarious, as usual. a comedy full of flare, taste, language, humor, heartbroke, and a special technique in feeling! James L. Brooks has done it again of crafting yet another perfect comedy! A+Juan C Super Reviewer
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Nov 26, 2010"Spanglish" is the lesser of James L. Brooks' directorial efforts mainly because he is trying so obviously for cultural commentary. His films are better when he is showing a character's nuance objectively ("As Good As It Gets"). While "Spanglish" is not a bad film by any stretch of the imagination, it just does not go as far as it should. It's narrative is hindered by the way it's delivered and it unfortunately keeps us at a bit of an arms length from the characters. I enjoyed all the performances, especially Tea Leoni for being so aggressively unlikable, but in the end, you never have much to truly tether yourself to.Steven C Super Reviewer
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