| Spanglish | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | James L. Brooks |
| Written by | James L. Brooks |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Aimee Garcia |
| Cinematography | John Seale |
| Edited by | Richard Marks |
| Music by | Hans Zimmer |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release date |
|
Running time | 131 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | English Spanish |
| Budget | $80 million[2] |
| Box office | $55 million[2] |
Spanglish is a 2004 Americanromanticcomedy-drama film written and directed byJames L. Brooks, and starringAdam Sandler,Téa Leoni,Paz Vega andCloris Leachman.
In the film, Cristina Moreno, a Mexican-born Princeton candidate, writes about a significant year in her life when her mother Flor, a woman who left Mexico with her for a better life in America, worked for a family whose patriarch is a newly celebrated chef with an insecure wife.
The film was released in the United States on December 17, 2004, bySony Pictures Releasing. It was abox-office bomb, grossing $55 million worldwide on an $80 million production budget.[2] The film received mixed reviews from critics.
In Cristina Moreno'sPrinceton University application essay, she tells the story of a year from her childhood and how it shaped whom she is today.
In 1992, Flor Moreno, aMexican single mother, moved to theUnited States ("economy class," according to Cristina's letter) to seek a better life for her and her daughter. Settling in aLatino community inLos Angeles, Flor has no need to learn English, though Cristina does.
Flor works two jobs to support them, but as Cristina blossoms, Flor realizes she needs to watch her more closely. So she gets a job as ahousekeeper for John and Deborah Clasky; their children Bernice and Georgie; and Deborah's mother, Evelyn Wright.
John is achef and easy-going family man. Deborah is a businesswoman who was laid off, so is now a stay-at-home mother. Evelyn is a retired singer who tends todrink to excess. Deborah is uptight, neurotic and insecure. She body-shames Bernice and bullies John by demanding he always back her up. He is torn between defending his kids' mental health and his domineering wife. Flor tries to build Bernice's self-confidence with small acts of kindness, especially when Deborah is harsh.
Flor gets on well with the Claskys despite the language barrier. When Deborah rents a house for the summer, she demands Flor live in while they are there, as commuting from LA toMalibu by bus is unfeasible. Faced with losing her job, Flor reluctantly agrees to bring Cristina to live with the Claskys for the summer. Cristina is instantly dazzled by the Claskys' wealthy lifestyle.
Deborah quickly attaches to the beautiful and personable Cristina, ignoring Bernice. Flor does not approve of the attention. John unwittingly angers Flor when he offers to pay the children a set amount for each bit of sea glass they find on the beach. Cristina earnestly searches for hours, earning $650 for her efforts.
Flor and John argue, with Cristina as an interpreter. Flor wants to leave because of the awkward family dynamic. To Cristina's delight, he convinces her to stay, and Flor starts an English course so she can better communicate with them.
After John's restaurant receives an enthusiastic review, he stresses about maintaining standards. Deborah begins an affair with a real estate agent. She also secures Cristina a scholarship to Bernice's private school, upsetting Flor, who is concerned her daughter might become an outcast or lose her individuality there. As Cristina begs to attend the school, Flor agrees but feels that Deborah is overstepping her bounds and voices her concerns to John, who tells her he empathizes as Bernice's own mother does not support her.
Deborah allows Cristina to bring her private school friends over for a sleepover, telling Flor it is a study session although Cristina is expected home for a family event. The now-sober Evelyn confronts her daughter about her affair, warning her she will lose John and ruin her life if she does not stop.
Deborah confesses to John, who cannot face her and leaves. He encounters Flor, who has arrived to quit and retrieve Cristina. Since Cristina is asleep with her friends, John takes Flor to his restaurant, where he cooks for her, and they admit their feelings for each other but acknowledge they cannot have a relationship.
A desperate Deborah continuously tries to contact John, blaming Evelyn's failings as a parent for her behavior. They have a frank conversation during which they admit their faults and become closer.
The next day, Flor comes to take Cristina home and informs her that she has quit her job, which upsets her. John and Flor part amicably. On the way home, Flor further informs Cristina she cannot attend private school anymore, which leads her to have a public meltdown and accuse her of ruining her life.
After Cristina asks her mother for "space," Flor, having lost patience, tells Cristina she must answer an important question at such a young age: "Is what you want for yourself to become someone very different than me?" Cristina considers this on their bus ride home before they make up and embrace.
Cristina's essay to the Princeton committee concludes that, although being accepted would thrill her, she would not let it define her, as she is already her mother's daughter.
James L. Brooks cast Adam Sandler after seeing his more dramatic performance inPunch-Drunk Love.[3]
Paz Vega could not speak English when filming began and an interpreter was on set during filming so that she could communicate with the director.[3]
Cloris Leachman replacedAnne Bancroft, who dropped out of the part after four weeks of shooting because of illness.[3]
According to cinematographerJohn Seale, over two million feet of film was shot;Kodak sent him two bottles of champagne out of appreciation. This was the most footage Seale ever shot on a film, and it wasn't surpassed untilMad Max: Fury Road in 2015.[4]
The film grossed $8 million at #3 during its opening weekend. It eventually grossed $42 million at the box office in the United States and another $12 million outside the US, which brings the worldwide total of $55 million. The film's failure was partly due to its competition withLemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events,Ocean's Twelve, andMeet the Fockers.[5]
OnRotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 54% based on reviews from 168 of critics, with an average rating of 6/10. The critical consensus reads, "Paz Vega shines, and Adam Sandler gives a performance of thoughtfulness and depth, butSpanglish is ultimately undermined by sitcommy plotting and unearned uplift."[6] OnMetacritic it has a score of 48% based on reviews from 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[7] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film a grade "B+" on scale of A to F.[8]
Its proponents claim it is a moving portrayal of the difficulty of family problems and self-identity (and perhaps to a lesser extent the difficulties and rewards ofcross-cultural communication). Some critics described the film as "uneven",[9] "awkward," for example when "John and Flor attempt to bare their souls to one another ... [with] lots of words coming out of their mouths, but there doesn't seem to be a context",[10] and "The supporting performers deserve better, especially ... Cloris Leachman, who's consigned to a demeaning role...[and] the butt of rather mean-spirited jokes."[11]
The film was released on DVD and VHS on April 5, 2005.[12]
| Award | Category | Recipients | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | Best Intergenerational Film | Spanglish | Nominated | [13] |
| Best Screenwriter | James L. Brooks | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Cloris Leachman | Nominated | ||
| California on Location Awards | Assistant Location Manager of the Year – Feature Films | Kei Rowan-Young | Won | [14] |
| German Dubbing Awards | Outstanding Newcomer Performance | Patricia Jahn | Won | |
| 62nd Golden Globes Awards | Best Original Score | Hans Zimmer | Nominated | [15] |
| Imagen Foundation Awards | Best Picture | Spanglish | Nominated | [16] |
| Best Director – Film | James L. Brooks | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress – Film | Paz Vega | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress – Film | Shelbie Bruce | Won | ||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Breakout of the Year – On Screen | Paz Vega | Won | [17] |
| Best Performance by Youth in a Leading or Supporting Role – Female | Sarah Steele | Won | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical | Cloris Leachman | Nominated | [18] |
| 11th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role | Cloris Leachman | Nominated | [19] |
| The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards | Worst Actress | Tea Leoni | Nominated | [20] |
| Worst On-Screen Couple | Adam Sandler Tea Leoni | Nominated | ||
| Young Artist Awards | Best Family Film – Comedy or Musical | Spanglish | Nominated | [21] |
| Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Actor Age Ten or Younger | Ian Donovan Hyland | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress | Shelbie Bruce | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress | Sarah Steele | Nominated |