Coming from the relative low of Blended (2014) and hearing that this was one of Sandler's few attempts at a serious role I was intrigued to see what the actor had to offer. Though admittedly was secretly hoping this would put Sandler back on high as I've often been a fan of the comedian does drama genre with favourites such as Dan in Real Life (2007), Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011) and of course The Truman Show (1998).
The first thing that really hit me about Spanglish was that this is really not an Adam Sandler vehicle no matter what the marketing would have you believe (Sandler is even the main focus of the films poster). There's no slapstick or comedic gross outs, and our starring man doesn't even don a sports related t-shirt throughout the entire film. Even more shocking is the fact that Sandler is actually the main love interest of our protagonist, with Brooks seeming to have conjured something other worldly with this everyday tale of a mother and daughter and their battle against the tidal-wave that is Americanisation. The second big realisation about this film is it's amazing soundtrack, by non other than famous cinema virtuoso, the legendary Hans Zimmer. Yes one of only two men who could rival the majesty of the great John Williams, Zimmer has been practically scoring my cinematic education my entire life, with amazing work on Pirates of the Carribbean (2003) to White Fang (1991) to Gladiator (2000) and even The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and Man of Steel (2013). Small aside, Zimmer was the composer and music supervisor for Disney's The Lion King (1994) and won an Academy Award for his efforts.
True to form Zimmer's score in this film is a thing of beauty, delicate and soulful with hints of Spanish flair and sweeping grace it's everything a film score should be, and if listening to it doesn't make you want to run away with the love of your life chasing the sun forever, then you my friend need to watch Frozen (2013) more and just let it go.
Not only is the music of Spanglish astounding so is it's cast, with Paz Vega playing our leading lady Flor with style. Enthralling the audience to throw our support behind her efforts to provide for her daughter as well as navigating the outright crazy requests of employer Deborah (Tea Leoni), who also brings home an outlandish and masterful performance as a walking ball of insecurity. I was especially impressed by just how much Leoni can articulate whilst balling her eyes out, the make up department deserves an award for that scene alone. Even Sandler did not disappoint, pulling off the humble husband and father role with a level of quiet intensity I've yet to see him repeat in any other role to date.
Sadly as wonderful as this film is, the story much like Blended is just too much to be believed. Not only does Flor go from not speaking a word of English to almost fluid within a month even with self help videos it's still far flung. Deborah's behaviour is also just crazy, semi adopting Flor's daughter Cristina and purposefully manipulating her against her mother, with promises of a robust scholarship to a private school, gift necklaces and hair do's as well as sleepovers without asking for permission and all the while ignoring her own daughter based solely on her slight weight issue, it's just too much. Sandler's John is also conveniently America's best living chef and yet is repulsed by the idea of fame and somehow manages to retain being a likeable father and love interest whilst fully financially supporting a gated community mansion, separate beach house, an entire family (including mother in law), a live in maid with daughter, and yet still only works a few times a week.
Ultimately it's this level of absurd disconnection from the conceivable reality of its target audience as well as its over the top antics that really lets the film down.
Charming, beautifully acted, and miraculously scored, this one will have you watching with a mix of curiosity at its outlandish shenanigans, and with slight boredom as you realise it's been done before with better streamlining and passion e.g. The Fifth Element (1997). But if you're looking for a few well earned awes with a side study of the visual influence of American culture over that of its southern neighbour Mexico, than its hard to go wrong with Spanglish.
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