Spanglish (2004)

Directed by James L. Brooks. Starring Paz Vega, Adam Sandler, Téa Leoni, Shelbie Bruce, Sarah Steele, Cloris Leachman, Cecilia Suárez, Ian Hyland. [PG-13]

Undocumented Mexican immigrant Vega—who speaks no English—is hired as the housekeeper for “best chef in the United States” Sandler and ultra-neurotic stay-at-home mom Leoni, then causes a stir in the household despite trying her best not to become involved in their personal lives or involving them in hers. Another romantic seriocomedy from writer/director Brooks, but the writing resembles sitcom mush far too often—the conversations ring clumsy and artificial, and it paints itself into a corner when the characters must make a critical decision at the end, yet neither option is (or would be) remotely satisfying. Vega is appealing, as are Bruce and Steele as the daughters of both leading ladies, but Sandler isn’t especially believable as a professional chef, or as a husband to Leoni’s character, who is such a strident harpy and tornado of hysteria that the soundtrack practically screeches when she’s onscreen (not the fault of the actress, who unfortunately plays it to a hilt). Thomas Haden Church appears briefly as a realtor.

34/100