Spanglish

Movie review by Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Spanglish Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Mixed messages wrapped in stale stereotypes.

PG-13 2004 130 minutes
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 9 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 12 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this movie contains a mess of mixed messages all neatly wrapped in stereotypes. There is an unfeeling scene of simulated sex, adultery, cruel mother/daughter behavior, drinking, drinking, drinking, and lots of salty language and gestures.

Community Reviews

Nessa M.
Nessa M. Adult
January 1, 2023
age 15+

This isn’t a comedy

I watched this cuz I thought it was going to be funny but it really isn’t, very emotionally heavy imo. It’s a pretty good movie though. The main theme is mother/daughter relationships.

This title has:

Great messages
Apersonthatdoesstuff ..
Apersonthatdoesstuff .. Adult
February 22, 2021
age 12+

Ehhh

Violence 0/5 Sex 2/5 Language 3/5 Drinking/Drugs/Smoking 3/5

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SPANGLISH centers on Flor (Paz Vega), a single immigrant mother from Mexico who is trying to raise her beautiful daughter, Cristina (Shelbie Bruce). Flor goes to work as a maid for wealthy but kind chef John (Adam Sandler), and his mean-spirited wife Deborah (Tea Leoni). Deborah's daughter Bernice (Sarah Steele) isn't good enough for her perfectionist mother, who takes over the care and grooming of Cristina while the kind Flor nurses the emotional bruises of the constantly criticized Bernice. Also living at the home is Deborah's alcoholic mother (Cloris Leachman), who frequently points out her daughter's faults. Deborah and John's marriage is in trouble, and John finds himself falling for Flor, who is struggling to learn English and trying to keep her daughter grounded and on track as Deborah continues to spoil the girl.

Is It Any Good?

This movie preys on every known stereotype in its reach for laughter, and leaves everyone looking pretty bad. Where to begin? The witchy wife? The drunken mother-in-law? The now stale portrayal of the hapless Adam Sandler as the sweet husband who's at the mercy of all the fates around him? Tea Leoni portrays uptight Deborah with brutal coldness, which overshadows any supposed comic relief coming from Cloris Leachman's character, who is supposed to stand as some sort of moral arbiter.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about classism and sexism. They might ask their kids what the filmmakers were trying to say about marriage, mother/daughter relationships, and cultural identity.

Movie Details

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