Spanglish (2004)
A film as incomprehensible and as
muddled as its title, "Spanglish" misfires on almost
every level, but especially when Adam Sandler is on
the screen. Bloated, scraggly and totally unable to
comprehend his character, Sandler is adrift in his
own inadequacies as an actor here.
Sure, Sandler was great in "Punch
Drunk Love," but he apparently had a director
there who knew how to get a textured and multi-layered
performance out of him. James L. Brooks apparently
isn't as capable in that realm as Paul Thomas Anderson,
because Sandler simply wavers and waddles here, moving
from goofy lunk to emotional wreck faster than a Lamborghini
goes from zero to 60.
Tea Leoni doesn't have much luck
in this film either. Here's a film that displays exactly
why she isn't a successful movie star, she has no
abilities to grasp her character here but it isn't
quite as obvious because the crap whirlwind that is
Sandler's performance makes her worthlessness seem
pale and wan by comparison.
The only person who comes out unscathed
here is the delightful and gorgeous Paz Vega, who
proved what an amazing actress she is in Spanish film
"Sex and Lucia"
a couple years ago. But Vega is saved by performing
a character who doesn't speak English well. Still,
here, at least, she provides the calm inside the shitstorm
that is this film. She provides a solid and unconfused
character. She, at least, gets it. Her winning smile
and beautiful demeanor can almost save this film at
times. Then Sandler and Leoni are left alone on the
screen and the thing goes into the dumper.
Brooks has provided many a tear-jerker
and comic drama in his day as a TV and film producer,
writer and director but he has overstepped his abilities
here. He is so far out of his element as to be on
the planet Pluto and seems totally incapable of getting
a solid performance out of his actors.
His script is all over the map as
well. There's no one to like here and no one to care
about. Vegas' immigrant is likeable but we're supposed
to believe she's in love with Sandler's emotional
dishrag Chef and no actress alive could pull that
off. Meryl Streep would fail. Hell, the best porn
actress alive couldn't make us believe anyone would
want to fuck this guy let alone fall in love with
him. We can't abide by this silly plot contrivance
and Vega's charm is diminished in the process.
"Spanglish" is an irritating, frustrating,
pointless and flavorless goulash that offers no insights
and only contrived messages. In almost every sense
of the word, it is a complete failure of a film. When
the return of the amazing Cloris Leachman to a film
offers nothing to cheer for, you know you've got a
writer and director that deserves to be relegated
to television.
Notes:
In English and Spanish without subtitles.
There is not a single subtitle in the film though
Spanish is spoken throughout. Often a character translates
to English.
The only golden Globe nomination
this film could muster was for Hans Zimmer for Best
Score.
At one time Anne Bancroft was set
to play the role that went to Leachman.
Viewed in Austin in December 2004.
