Spanglish Movie Review

Spanglish (2004)

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Written by: James L. Brooks
Directed by: James L. Brooks
Starring: Adam Sandler, Téa Leoni, Paz Vega, Cloris Leachman
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
Flora and her daughter emigrate from Mexico for a better life in America, where Flora starts working for a well-off family with two children before moving in with them.

Verdict
The actors and comedic tone dull the edge to this movie, but also makes it more accessible. This tackles issues of relationships, class, and culture. There are so many facets to this story that it's difficult to describe what this is really about. It's about raising kids, differing values, economic station, and much more. For an Adam Sandler movie it's certainly a surprise, as itt's smarter than it looks.
Watch it.

Review
While book ending this as a college essay feels dated, it does support this story and give it a bit more impact. At the center of the movie is Christina, she's the daughter of  Flor, a housekeeper for the Claskys (Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni).

Adam Sandler plays John.

The language barrier makes this more comical than it is at times. It seems odd Flor would get hired with the communication barrier, but its an oddity that serves as the foundation for the movie.

Flor serves as house keeper for the Claskys, wanting the best for her daughter. Eventually she and Christina being living with the Claskys who pay for Christina's private school education. Flor draws a line a few times as she feels the Claskys overstep and give too much to Christina. Flor has worked hard for everything she has and she wants Christina to have that value too.

Leoni's character Deborah is obsessed with fitting in and culture. Her own insecurities are projected onto her daughter, an already fractured relationship.

This is a really neat movie that touches upon race, class, and culture. We see two starkly different lives, but it's also heartbreaking that Deborah like's Flor's daughter more than her own because Christina fits society's definition of pretty.
Sandler as her husband John is caught in the middle, submissive to his wife.
Christina feels like she's won the lottery, getting everything her mother can't afford, but she's also appreciative in all the ways the Clasky children aren't. The Clasky children expect it because they've always had everything. Christina has had very little. It's an honest and accurate story, at least it feels that way, though some moments are a bit contrived. I can excuse those moments, because the message is strong.

Flor is upset and concerned about the influence of the Claskys. She wouldn't raise her daughter the way the Clasky's raise their kids. It's not wrong, but Flor wants to maintain their culture.
The Clasky's kids have it easy in some respects and hard in others. Christina gets the best of both. It's the kids fault in regards to John and his availability and opportunities afforded, but Deborah's fault with how she treats Christina better than anyone else.

Having every opportunity doesn't necessarily make you a better person. Flor could have continued working for the Claskys. It was financially good for her and Christina, but Flor wanted control of the values passed on to Christina. Flor knows life isn't always as easy as the Clasky's present. The Clasky's are financially well off, but their interpersonal relationships are terrible. Money doesn't buy happiness in their case. Flor has to make a hard decision about the future and the value of being well versus raised right. What's best long term for Christina?