Spanglish (2004)

Spanglish Review, by The Great Bambino

I went in this movie expecting something that was well done, but not amazing. I came out thinking that this movie was more than well done, and actually pretty close to amazing. Regretfully though, the movie has it's problems, and could have been much more. First though, the good. This movie is very heartfelt, funny, and well acted. Well... actually, some of it is well acted. Adam Sandler is phenomenal as the nice guy dad that has problems but keeps them up inside. He gives a very believable character, and really made the movie for me. Paz Vega gives a wonderful performance as the Spanish speeking maid. The lovebly funny grandma is played by Cloris Leachman, who gives the funniest character in the entire movie. The movie all together is very well done, and puts out everything that it's got to create a very entertaining movie. I did laugh a few times from here to there, and it wasn't all dramatic. But that is all balanced out very well, to create a dramatic comedy that will appeal to most people.

And now... the bad. No, there isn't a lot, but there is enough to keep the movie from being all that it could have been. The editing in the movie is not something to marvel at. With very noticeable problems from here to there, Spanglish begins to feel sloppy. The acting done by Tea Leoni as the bad guy mom is less then good. She begins to become a little too annoying, and has scenes in which she seems like a soap opera actress. Victoria Luna playing the daugther of Flor isn't all to great either. She makes it to the point where you just hope that you won't see her anymore in the movie because she isn't even close to being good enough for this movie. I mean... what happened to little actresses like Dakota Fanning? Anyone? Anyone? Oh well. These are pretty much the only noticeable problems throughout the movie. The rest was superb. One very entertaining movie!


A+