'Spanglish' takes a stab at the dysfunctional family

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

SPANGLISH (PG-13) Two-and-a-Half Stars (Fair-to-Good) James L. Brooks' film is a cross-cultural comedy-drama about the ripples in a dysfunctional upper class Los Angeles family when a conscientious and caring Hispanic maid enters their lives. Adam Sandler, Tea and Paz Vega co-star. Columbia, 129 minutes.

Adam Sandler and Tea Leoni are the husband and wife, but newcomer Paz Vega steals the film as Flor, an illegal alien from Mexico whom they hire to watch their kids and clean their house.

Even though Flor doesn't speak English, she manages to take gentle control of the house and the children, despite the presence of the extremely neurotic and erratic Deborah (Leoni) and her alcoholic mother (Cloris Leachman).

Deborah's husband, John, (Sandler) tries to be a calming influence, but he's stressed out at work. As one of L.A.'s hottest young chefs, he's just been given a top rating by a famous restaurant critic, and he knows he won't be able to handle the increased workload. At home, Deborah is increasingly a problem, expressing little understanding or patience for her children or her husband.

As played by Leoni, the high-strung, self-absorbed Deborah is one of the least-agreeable characters currently on screen, and sometimes destroys what should be a delicate balance among the film's various characters.

Clearly, Flor has never seen such sad and wasteful lives, either back in Mexico or in L.A.'s barrios. She's particularly concerned that the Anglos' wacky ways don't influence her own daughter (Shelbie Bruce), who already shows dangerous levels of fascination with white America.

As in most films by Brooks — including "As Good As It Gets" and "Broadcast News" — "Spanglish" is stronger in character development and the ups and downs of relationships than in plot. "Spanglish" seems like it could be the pilot for a TV sitcom. (Remember, Brooks was the driving force behind such classic TV fare was "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Simpsons.") Several characters are positioned for a variety of possible future plot lines. But, instead, Brooks pushes his luck by trying to get the job done in two hours and nine minutes — an inordinately long running time.

The point of the film seems unclear. Is Brooks saying different cultures should learn from each other? If so, it doesn't really happen. The plot, such as it is, would be the same if the new maid was from Barstow instead of the barrio.

Still, Sandler delivers his most mature and restrained performance to date — he's quite appealing as the beleaguered John — and Leachman adds another first-class supporting portrayal to her resume. Best of all is Vega, who creates an entirely sympathetic and likable character who also just happens to be a world-class beauty.

Rated PG-13, profanity and innuendo.