Spanglish

REVIEW
Writer-director Brooks follows up As Good as It Gets with another film focusing on what he tackles best: communication, family and finding humor in life’s tragedies. The film opens with an introduction to Cristina as she translates the story of how she and her mother Flor (the incomparable Vega) were forever changed by their experience living with and working for the upscale Clasky family. Flor, knowing no English, is hired as a maid by the neurotic Deborah (Leoni). Deborah is shocked to discover Flor has a daughter, but insists she bring her along when the time comes for them to all live at the family’s luxurious summer home. When the conflicting, dramatically different lifestyles of the two families collide, relationships unravel and each character is forced to confront the lack of understanding in each person’s communicative styles. As conflict builds, there is a need for expurgation which can only come with translation. Essentially a story about a mother and daughter, Spanglish mainly succeeds due to the strong humor spread amongst all this drama and for the wonderful performances Brooks always seems to capture from the actors he casts. While Sandler proved his acting chops with Punch-Drunk Love, this is by far his richest performance to date. Leoni has much depth and range as does the highly expressive Vega, but the acting honors go to the wondrous Leachman as Deborah's mother -- she alone is reason enough to see this genuine, heartfelt comedy.