2 of 3

Brooks' characters have great depth and awareness. Unfortunately, many of them are looking for fulfillment in empty places—lovers' arms, food, property, or other material possessions.

Alas, Brooks leaves the final details to his viewers, who become part of the Clasky family for two hours as the director exposes the highs and lows of humanity. The audience has to figure out what happens behind the beautiful walls of the Claskys' LA mansion. From the beginning of the film, we know we have to hope for and take part in the reconstruction of a marriage. And that's emotionally draining.

Talk About It

1. Deb struggles to find her identity. What does the Bible say about identity? How could Deb have turned to her family to find peace?
   
   
2. Do you see any hope for John and Deb? How? Why or why not?
   
   
3. The Claskys have more material wealth than they could ever want. Why aren't they happy? What brings happiness?
   
   
4. At one point, Deb says to Flor, "You must learn English!" Why is Deb blinded to her own behavior? Why does she act so insensitively? How could she change, if she wanted to?

The Family Corner

Spanglish is meant for a mature, discerning audience. This is not your typical Adam Sandler bathroom-humor film. In addition to adultery, the film shows an onscreen orgasm and several characters use profane language, including taking the Lord's name in vain. There are also a couple of sexual references.

Photos © Copyright Columbia Pictures

While mainstream critics are calling Spanglish a serious stumble from Oscar-regular James Brooks, religious press critics seem surprised and delighted to find a film in which adultery is portrayed as the wrong decision.

Flor (Paz Vega) and her daughter Cristina (Victoria Luna) moved from Mexico to L.A. to try and better themselves. But Flor's new job as a housekeeper for the messed-up, neurotic Deborah (Tia Leoni) becomes doubly complicated when she falls in love with Deborah's husband John (Adam Sandler). Struggling with more than the bilingual brouhahas, Flor must deal with her daughter's adolescence and with a serious clash of cultural lifestyles.

Mary Lasse (Christianity Today Movies) calls the film "emotionally draining" and says, "While the content isn't always pretty, the lessons are important. And, Brooks, thankfully, isn't afraid to face these themes, ugliness and all. Brooks' characters have great depth and awareness. Unfortunately, many of them are looking for fulfillment in empty places—lovers' arms, food, property, or other material possessions."

"Tenderness and compassion, and an admiration for basic virtues, are rare in film," writes Andrew Coffin (World). "Spanglish has all three—and this imperfect but funny and touching film deserves more credit than it's likely to get."

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) says, "The characters are very well defined and the relationships formed between them are strong and interesting but for some reason Brooks doesn't explore them very deeply. The differing relationships between the two mothers and their daughters should rightly be the focal point of the film but is too often abandoned for the 'love triangle' that begins to develop among the adults."

Christopher Lyon (Plugged In) says it's "a long, odd mix that ultimately fails to satisfy. [Brooks'] work offers moments of laughter and real insight, but not enough of either. Those messages about the power of and need for selflessness in families aren't enough … to transform a family drama into a family film—or to overcome the mostly tedious journey required to receive them."

But Annabelle Robertson (Crosswalk) says, "Despite its flaws, Spanglish … sends an important message about marriage. What the film tells us is that despite seemingly insurmountable hurdles, we do not have to give in to adultery. It's almost as if Brooks is trying to say that, even though Flor and John fall 'in love,' their relationship would never work. For that to happen, they would have to destroy an entire family. And while that is done every day, all over America, there are few who would say that it works, or that anyone lives happily ever after."

next page... |  2 of 3