Due to the holiday craziness, I only went to one movie this week — just one, one lone movie. How many movies did I want to see? All of them — “Flight of the Phoenix,” “Meet the Fockers,” “Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events” and “Darkness.”
So, what's the one movie I did see? “Spanglish.” Was it good? Absolutely.
“Spanglish” stars Paz Vega as a beautiful Mexican woman named Flor, who leaves her safe Mexican-Los Angeles neighborhood to work for an upscale American family.
The film is narrated by Flor's daughter, Christina (Shelbie Bruce).
Flor works for the Clasky family — neurotic, waspish and more-than-slightly annoying mother, Deborah (Tea Leoni); calm, family guy and four-star restaurant owner dad, John (Adam Sandler); pre-teen, adorable, witty daughter, Bernice (Sarah Steele); and practicing alcoholic, ex-jazz singer grandma, Evelyn (Cloris Leachman). Actually, I think there's a son, too, but we don't see too much of him.
Anyway, sane, normal, non-English speaking Flor is thrown into the tumult of the Clasky family.
Her first day on the job, a family meltdown occurs because Deborah purchased some clothes for Bernice that were too small, thinking they would be catalysts to help her daughter lose weight.
Flor, the helpful angel-in-residence fixes the clothes, against her own vow to get involved with the crazy American family, and sets the tone for the rest of the movie.
The Clasky's mess up. Flor offers good advice and strong Mexican wisdom.
That is, until the Clasky's rent a beachhouse for the summer and ask Flor to move in with them. She doesn't want her 12-year-old daughter exposed to the family's wacky antics, but needs the money, so agrees.
The first day, Deborah steals Flor's daughter for the day and takes her shopping and streaks her hair pink. Flor, not wanting Deborah to shower such time, attention and money on her daughter while Deborah's own daughter was neglected, was less than pleased.
In essence, “Spanglish” was about the Clasky's needing Flor's help to be better people and Flor needing the Clacky's help to be a better person.
#8220;Spanglish” was a very good movie, full of wit and humor, but also some very serious moments. It is rated PG-13 “for some sexual content and brief language,” so isn't recommended for younger viewers.
Hitting theaters over the next couple of weeks are “White Noise,” “Coach Carter,” “Elektra” and “Racing Stripes.”
Selina Vert is editor of Bay Mills News.
