DVD Review: Spanglish

(andPOP) - On the surface, Spanglish is a quasi-humourous drama with a predictable, run of the mill storyline. Five minutes into the film, audience may wonder if they've already figured out everything that needs to be figured out.

But the brilliance of Spanglish, now in stores on DVD, lies in how everything comes together.

Adam Sandler stars as the dad, John Clasky, who has a seemingly happy marriage with Tea Leoni's character, Deborah. Paz Vega stars as Flor, the Spanish-speaking maid hired to help out around the mansion.

Flor agrees to move into their summer home with the family, as long as she is able to bring her daughter.

As the summer progresses, Flor feels as if she is losing influence over her daughter, and at the same time, develops feelings towards Sandler's character.

The subplots are the key to Spaglish's success. Movies have been made with almost identical storylines, but Spanglish explores the topics with a modern look at the issues in a way that can they can actually occur.

Vega, in her first North American movie, excels as Flor. The audience, not just Sandler, falls in love with her.

Sandler does a mediocre job at playing the emotional father/husband. He's at his best when times are good, such as in the scenes where he is falling for Flor. However, he's awful when times are rough and he's required to show some emotions. Sandler is a great comedic actor but cannot play the sensitive character.

The secret weapon is Evelyn Norwich, who has over 100 credits on her resume. She plays Deborah's mother and Sandler can learn a few things from her. She is hilarious as the pre-lunchtime drunk, and shows how good of an actor she is when she gets serious as Deborah breaks down.

The bonus material is worth a look. Included is commentary, deleted scenes, an HBO special, casting sessions, and a feature on how to make a great sandwich (not a good feature for people with a heart condition).

4*