‘Spanglish:’ more than just a language; it’s a lifestyle

Often when we go to the movies, we find ourselves wishing we were part of the family on the screen. Their lives are so much better than ours are, and everything always works out for the best in the end.

But what happens when we enter the Clasky house?

The daughter thinks she is fat and fights with her mother constantly. The mother is having a hard time accepting her new life as a full time mom. The grandmother is an alcoholic that provides comic relief. The husband and wife are having problems, while the father is trying to hold everything together. Sounds like something we can all relate to, right?

Adam Sandler’s portrayal of John Clasky is excellent, though it is hard to get used to him not being the funny guy. Most of the comedy comes from the characters around him.

John Clasky is the nice dad everyone wishes for. His interactions with his pre-teen daughter, Bernice (Sarah Steele), are touching, as he always knows how to make her laugh. His wife Deborah (Tea Leoni) is the complete opposite of him and it is hard to imagine them as a real couple. The strained chemistry between them gives great insight into their struggling marriage.

The Mexican housekeeper, Flor (Paz Vega), also helps the family discover what is really important.

Though the whole movie is centered around Flor and her daughter, Flor is the most underdeveloped character. Her accent is hard to understand at times, but that might have been done on purpose. How often is it that what we need to hear is the hardest thing to understand?

Directed by James L. Brooks (“As Good As it Gets”), the movie is true to his style – heavy on character relationships but weak on other aspects, making for a few choppy moments.

While you are inside the Clasky house, many problems will be brought to light and many will be solved. However, as with real life, there will be some that go unsolved.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 4 2005. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry