Spanglish (2004)
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53% of critics liked it
(164 reviews) -
62% of users liked it
(181,158 ratings)
A Hispanic woman and her young daughter are thrown into the middle of a well-to-do but remarkably dysfunctional family in this comedy drama from writer and director James L. Brooks. Flor (Paz Vega) is a single mother who has struggled to support her daughter Cristina (Shelbie Bruce) working as a… More A Hispanic woman and her young daughter are thrown into the middle of a well-to-do but remarkably dysfunctional family in this comedy drama from writer and director James L. Brooks. Flor (Paz Vega) is a single mother who has struggled to support her daughter Cristina (Shelbie Bruce) working as a domestic in Mexico. Hoping to give her daughter greater financial security, Flor packs up their belongings and moves the family to California, but Flor refuses to surrender her Latino identity and opts not to learn English; meanwhile, Cristina quickly learns to speak the language fluently. Flor lands a high-paying job working as a housekeeper for Deborah Clasky (Téa Leoni); Deborah doesn't speak a word of Spanish, but this is hardly the most curious thing about their working relationship. A deeply troubled neurotic who has spent time in a mental hospital, Deborah is at once obsessed with her duties as a wife and mother and utterly clueless to her family's needs, and when she learns that Flor has a daughter, she insists that the girl move in with the Claskys. Flor, however, isn't so sure she wants Deborah Americanizing Cristina, especially when Deborah begins doting on the girl at the expense of her relationship with her own daughter, Bernice (Sarah Steele). Deborah's husband, John (Adam Sandler), is an oasis of loving calm and understanding in the midst of his chaotic family, and Flor becomes attracted to this man who shows no signs of the arrogant machismo she's accustomed to. But John's career as a chef is turned upside down when The New York Times gives his restaurant a four-star review, suddenly turning his small eatery into the "in" spot in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Flor reaches the end of her patience when Deborah enrolls Cristina into an exclusive private school which Flor is certain will turn her into a typical American child and drive a wedge between Cristina and her mother. Spanglish also stars Cloris Leachman as Deborah's sharp-tongued mother. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- James L. Brooks
- Written By
- James L. Brooks
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 17, 2004 Wide
- On DVD
- Apr 5, 2005
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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David Ansen, Newsweek
There are signs that a lot has been cut, and in trimming his film Brooks may have squeezed too tight: his movie needs breathing space.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
This is Hollywood liberal humanism as muted join-the-dots melodrama, all carefully calculated colouring, broad outlines, and no room for fruitful digression.
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Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
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.
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Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Brooks, fumbling around with too many characters and too many issues, can't find the heart of the story or give heart to the part of it he chose to focus on.
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Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
The film too often seems to be talking down, to its subjects and to its audience.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Adam Sandler
as John Clasky
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Téa Leoni
as Deborah Clasky
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Paz Vega
as Flor
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Cloris Leachman
as Evelyn
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Shelbie Bruce
as Cristina
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Sarah Steele
as Bernice
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Ian Hyland
as Georgie
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Victoria Luna
as Cristina (6 years old)
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Thomas Haden Church
as Mike Realtor
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Freddy Soto
as Manuel







