Spanglish was written and directed by James L. Brooks, who also wrote and directed Terms of Endearment and As Good As It Gets; if you liked those movies, you'll like this one too. An illegal Mexican immigrant, Paz Vega, obtains a job as a housekeeper for a well-to-do Los Angeles family, which includes nice-guy husband Adam Sandler, neurotic wife Tea Leoni, her drunken mother Cloris Leachman and two semi-normal children -- Vega can't speak English and they can't speak Spanish; lack of communication exists not only between the two cultures but also among the family members themselves. This movie is all about relationships and one's identity, and that who you really are is not only defined by your beliefs and values but also by your interaction with the people around you. The whole tone of this flim is captured in a scene where Sandler and Vega have a "discussion/argument" and Vega's daughter translates for both, doing so by not only saying their words but also by taking on their emotional state -- the scene is both amazing and hilarious at the same time. This one gets a well deserved 9.15.… Expand

Just because Christina is really fine but the movie was ok but damn she's fine thats why i gave it a 10.

This movie loves all its characters, each with their own foibles and hardships. The script bubbles with whimsy and intelligence. There are many laugh out loud moments, but the humor always emerges from characters naturally, and advances their development. Two families converge, a Mexican immigrant turned au pair and her pubescent daughter, and a successful chef, his wife, their son and daughter and her alcoholic mother. Nearly every adult family member hurts the others incidentally--most sadly their children--as they pursue their own, not unworthy goals. But through the grace of a platonic romance between the chef and au pair, the convergent families nudge each into mindful repair of their relationships and a healthier view of themselves. Wonderful acting, especially a superlative Tea Leoni. This movie inspires and delights so, you won't walk away from it, you'll float. And your feet won't have to touch the ground, for a little while at least.… Expand

This is one of the movies you either like alot or Really Hate It.

Tea Leoni's remarkably rounded performance--expressionism that really expresses--would by itself more than make this one worth seeing. But it gets right so many things that most movies simply don't get that I gladly forgive its few flaws. I'm appalled that "Spanglish" had such a hard time with the critics while something as mechanical, forced, and dishonest as "In Good Company" pulled favorable-to-enthusiastic reviews.… Expand

Flor (pronounced Flo-R-R-R-R-R-R) is a proud, plucky Mexican single mom who balances her struggles to provide for her preadolescent daughter, Cristina, with a fierce determination to prevent her from forgetting her culture--and, more importantly, who her mother is. As played by the irresistable Paz Vega, Flor is tough-minded, (usually) right...and as cute and charming as a basket of puppies. So is the film that James L. Brooks has made about her, which shares most of the same qualities as the rest of his small but significant body of movie work. It doesn't quite hit the highs of his all-time greats Terms of Endearment and Broadcast News, but it's vastly superior to his overlong, overrated and one-note As Good As It Gets. As always, Brooks is wonderful with actors: Adam Sandler as John, a befuddled father of two who employs Vega, is tremendously likable in his first real change-of-pace role (no, P. T. Anderson's Punch Drunk Love doesn't count; it's the work of a brilliant, visionary writer-director who's examining and exploring Sandler's perpetually angry Happy Gilmore persona, but it's an extension of it rather than a departure); the two young actresses who play Vega's and Sandler's daughters (Shelbie Bruce and Sarah Steele) are extraordinary, and Cloris Leachman is delightful. (I'm obviously leaving out one very controversial actress and character, but don't worry...I'll get to her later.) I admired Brooks' refusal to tie everything up neatly, especially given his TV sitcom background, and I think he films two- and three-character sequences as well or better than anyone currently working. (The long one in which Sandler and Vega argue over child-rearing philosophies, with her daughter acting as translator, ranks with David Carradine's Superman monologue in Kill Bill Vol. 2 and Paul Giamatti's metaphorical "grape speech" to Virginia Madsen in Sideways as one of the best dialogue-driven scenes of 2004.) Obviously, a good many viewers and critics are having trouble getting past Deborah (Tea Leoni), John's excessively self-involved wife and Flor's major adversary; they see her as a one-dimensional monster. I disagree; like Annette Bening's equally misunderstood suburban wife in American Beauty, Deborah is a deeply insecure, potentially tragic figure who deserves our understanding rather than our derision. Having recently been downsized, she's questioning her place in the world and her household (Vega's domestic duties render her even more superfluous), and she responds by invariably making all the wrong choices. The key to her behavior appears when, in comparing Flor's conventionally beautiful daughter to her own sweet and smart but less than conventional Bernice, she tells Flor, "You really should've gone into the surrogate mother business!" Of course, this "compliment" is patronizing and racist to Flor, and terribly if unintentionally cruel and insulting to Bernice...but it speaks even more about Deborah's low opinion of herself. Not only has Leoni said in interviews that she took her character farther than what Brooks' script called for, but keep in mind the humanism and generosity that has been a Brooks trademark through his entire TV career. The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Phyllis Lindstrom, Ted Baxter and Sue Ann Nivens and Taxi's Louie DePalma, selfish and buffoonish as they often are, frequently display flashes of decency and vulnerability as well. Surely, if Brooks can find the (very occasional) humanity in someone as manifestly evil as C. Montgomery Burns on The Simpsons, he can create in Deborah a fascinating character who isn't terrible at all...just terribly needy.… Expand

Paz Vega (new to me) was GREAT! And Adam Sandler, Tia Leoni, and Cloris Leachman were their usual outstanding selves. Not a side-splitting comedy as some might expect, but a very warm, enjoyable picture. You really felt for the characters without being able to put your finger on why that happened -- that's a good movie.

A truly wretched film. The worst of the year without a doubt. At least the likes of Resident Evil 2 knows it's rubbish. But these people thought they were making Oscar winning art. In fact, it's horrible. So much so, by the end people in the cinema were openly deriding the film and everyone was laughing. It is that bad. The dialogue like the film in general, is hysterical when it means to be serious and totally flat when it's meant to be funny. Lines like "the floor will eat us alive" had many people, myself included, laughing out loud at this tripe. The story is nauseating and the characters are the worst form of stereotype. Sandler does his patented boyish whispering before shouting thing that he always does. No-one is remotely likeable let alone believable. The atmosphere swings violently from comedy to pathos to slapstick within scenes. Heck, even a David Spade film would be better than this. Avoid like the plague.… Expand

James L. Brook's latest film isnt his best one. The ending of "Spanglish" was horrible! But its the performances that really shine in this film, and all of them deserved oscar nominations. Claris's performance was my favorite one,and the most underrated i've seen. In overal, Spanglish may have its big flaws, but it compensates by its magnificents performances!

I like this movie because it shows how someone can learn a second language if they really want to do it. Also we can see that it takes time and practice. Bazaldua.

This was a wonderful movie. As far as people talking about it having too much spanish, you could almost tell what they were saying by their actions. The spanish was no problem at all. I didn't really like the ending. I wish they could've shown if something was going to happen between Sandler and Vega. Or they could have at least had something showing that him and his wife fixed things. Other than that it was a movie that I would recommend to everyone.… Expand

I really liked this movie. Mainly because I am Mexican-American and can relate to a lot of it. The spanish didn't pose a problem for me because duh! I understand it. I really would recommend this movie. It was awesome. ^.^

The worst movie I've seen in years. Misogynistic crap: i.e. we are meant to laugh at a woman because she makes faces while having an orgasm, wants sex, and is bored since losing her job. And the contrast made with the supportive, maternal, sensual, and 'salt-of-the-earth' Latina maid is just a counterpoint of stereotypes (racial, gender, and class). Most of all though the film is all about support for Sandler (your hardworking everyman with a dream) and mean brutal hatred for his one-dimensional wife (Leoni). Invidious and evil stuff.… Expand

It's pretty understandable that some women dislike this movie, it leaves the average American women naked sex and emotionalwise. Awesome.

This is the second December movie that got diced by critics (although this one is split down the middle) the other being "The Phantom of the Opera" Both films are exemplary, "Splanglish" is a rich blend of original humor and heartbreak. Ignore the critics, they had it in for Brooks.

Depending on your point of view, this is either one of the year's biggest disappointments or one of its most underappreciated gems. My only disappointment is with the short-sighted, knee-jerk critics who trashed this film wholesale, ignoring its many virtues - rich performances, quotably witty dialogue, and a thoughtful, surprisingly touching look at the complicated but incalculably rewarding experience known as parenthood. The film's chief lightning rod for criticism is the character of Deborah (Tea Leoni), a selfish (yet self-doubting), neurotic wife and mother who can do little but stand by and watch as her beautiful, big-hearted hispanic housekeeper, Flor (the amazing Paz Vega) quickly proves (without initially speaking a word of English) to be a far better mother to Leoni's kids than she can hope to be. Some found Leoni's character to be completely unsympathetic and her performance to be over-the-top; I think it's one of the bravest, funniest performances of the year, and as unsympathetic as she may be in some (but by no means all) ways, I thought the character rang remarkably true (maybe that's what made some people uncomfortable.) And even if you can't get past Leoni's performance, there's much to enjoy in the work of the other actors. Adam Sandler slam-dunks his best performance to date (besting Punch-Drunk Love) as Leoni's chef husband, a decent, good-hearted guy who wants to do what's best for his family, though he's also understandably drawn to Flor. Shelbie Bruce, as Flor's bright, lovely teenage daughter, wonderfully portrays the delicate situation of being her mother's own interpreter in the English-speaking world. Sarah Steele steals your heart as Leoni and Sandler's chubby, sensitive, self-conscious daughter. Cloris Leachman is hilarious as Leoni's wise but tippling mom. As for Paz Vega, this is the film that should have made the luminous and gifted Spanish-born beauty a Stateside star; if there's any justice, she still will be. The intelligence, humanity, and wit of writer-director James L. Brooks has graced some of the greatest television (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, The Simpsons) and movies (Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, As Good As It Gets) of the past thirty-odd years, and for me, Spanglish can proudly stand with his best work.… Expand

I don't know why so many critics panned the film. I suppose if hypersensitive far left liberals may be offended by some character depictions or question the motives of the director. But I do believe that fair-minded intellectuals will appreciate the superb performances and the comedic tragedy of the film.

I REALLY liekd this movie. I thought it was very good. It really made me think about parenting relationships and differing cultures. I thought it was really good...cried a little even.

This movie was thoroughly unenjoyable. There is no real interaction between characters. Audience can't identify with the ambiguous storyline. Acting is artificial and exaggerated. A complete waste of time and money in my opinion.

Entertaining movie - something different for a change.

It was soooo boring.

Simply fine.

I liked it, my girlfriend liked it and my mother liked it ;-)

If you liked The Wedding Singer, you will like this! Need I say more. Fun, light hearted, with a great message.

An excellent, funny, and emotional masterpiece. Adam Sandler is excellent, Tea Leoni' is a mixed bag, but the music's awesome and fits the mood. Brilliant.

Terrible. Boring. Shmoltzy nonsense. Slow moving film that put me to sleep! Adam Sandler should NOT be a serious character. Humor-- Poor to Quite Poor. Totally sucked!!!

I like the movie because it was heartful. It showed that you may love someone so much you will do anything for them. The main reson why I liked it was because my girlfriend did. She likes movies like that. You know love/comedy.

Terrible from start to finish.

This romantic comedy is one of the best films this year. Adam Sandler shows a new and surprising side to his acting ability. The child actors involved turn in wonderful performances, but Cloris Leachman steals the film with her hilarious performance as the alcoholic former songbird mother of Tea Leoni. If you don't at least like this movie you need to get over yourself, stop vomiting out pseudo-intellectual BS, and get back to just enjoying movies. … Expand

Everyone who is hating on this movie is a heartless idiot, and you'll see that when you see it for yourself. Adam Sandler makes me want to be a better man, and Paz Vega picks up right where Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek left off. Critics are working overtime to find reasons to hate this one, and they need to be checked.

"Spanglish" can be atonal and episodic, yet this ramshackle film feels alive, like how "I Heart Huckabee" felt alive; shapeless, but the flaws by a single voice is more interesting than incoherence from a committee of voices. If you watch "Spanglish" in concert with the "Non-Fiction"-half of Todd Solondz's "Storytelling", you'll really see how it's beauty, more than language, that breaks down doors between disparate cultures. "Spanglish" might lose you when it turns into "We Don't Live Here Anymore", but it's interesting to see potential Ken Loach(or John Sayles) material in a studio film. … Expand

This movie is a lump of dog poop.... mixed with soil, bad sugar and atomic acid. It wasn't superior or superb. But this "lump of poop" was mixed with green powder, that increased the movie in its success. The movie doesn't deserve anything higher than a 7. Or lower than a 3. The mean of those numbers: 3 and 7 are 5. So I give this movie a 5. Or possibly a 4, or a 3.

Totally funny and then half way into the movie it Died!

Did this movie have a point? There was so much Spanish that halfway through your head truly hurts from trying to translate what is going on (why aren't there subtitles?). It felt more like my high school spanish class than watching a movie. Why would they put so many truly ANNOYING characters in one movie? You truly don't have anyone to root for in this movie.

I love spanish and I love Sandler's gibberish; put them both together and you've got a hibbidy dibbidy hit of a movie-- SPANGLISH!!

A good darn movie. Director Brooks again shows us that he knows his craft. He's a genius at creating realistic, poignant characters where we manage to see a reflection of ourselves. A very enjoyable and satisfying movie; I laughed and I cried. Definitely worth your money.

I really liked this movie, probably because I love learning languages. It had a good storyline and decent actors. If you didn't mind the constant spanish/ subtitles I don't see why you wouldn't love it!

This was Sandlers deepest role yet. I have a greater respect for his acting than I already did. I think the script writing had something to do with this which was excellent except for the very ending. If the movie had a fault it was that it did not tie up the Lose ends between Sandler and his wife. I thought the values of this film were almost perfect except for the ending which was overly focused on identifying too closely with the parent. One more comment I'd like to make is that the best actor in the film was really a young actress. I'm ashamed to not know her name but she played Sandlers daughter. She was a real powerhouse of emotion. I'd love to see what else this young star will play in the future.… Expand

Loved it!

I saw an early showing of this movie and hated it. At the risk of being melodramatic I have to say that it was one of, if not the, worst cinematic experiences in my life. Horrible script, contrived romance, awkward humor, cloying performances , and a mysterious message all contribute to a horrible train wreck of a movie.

What's Schwartzbaum's PROBLEM? Lots to like in this film, if imperfect.

[***SPOILERS***] Purely okay. Much like the other movie in the genre, Garden State, it starts out very funny, and then just decideds to get too serious for its own good. A dark comedy is a hard thing to pull off, and this movie fails to find the balance. The fact that Paz Vega, although striking, is obviously here only for her looks and not her acting ability hurts this movie too. She9;s forced to speak English through out the movie, where subtitles would have made it more appropriate. Finally, the movie forces you to accept too many things that are unlikely. Adam Sandler, though kind, doesn't seem to be an amazingly desirable person, yet the movie forces you to swallow that Vega will fall for him after he makes a move on her, drunk. Sandler's daughter fails to pull off good acting, and her attempt at crying is grating. This movie is better than Out of Order, not better than Garden State, but if you crave a movie like this, this is the only one in theater's nationwide. … Expand

I can see why some people didn't like it... either expecting a Sandler comedy or feeling that it dragged on. I can somewhat agree with the dragging on contingent but I still really enjoyed this movie. Very few movies have made me really feel for the characters like Spanglish did. I also agree with the person who said that Cloris Leachman stole the show. Special mention to the yellow lab too. … Expand