Spanglish Review

To date, Adam Sandler is best known for work in comedy. Ok, let's rephrase that - Adam Sandler is best known for getting angry and shouting a lot and sometimes getting the girl. Well Spanglish sees him go straight for only the second time in his cinematic career (the first wasa turn in "Punch Drunk Love") and the good news is he's pretty good. Sandler stars as John Clasky, a celebrated chef who lives in a leafy area of suburban LA with his frantic wife (Tea Leoni), their two children and her tipple-happy mother. Their lives are set to change though when a new housekeeper arrives in the shape of Mexican immigrant Flor (Paz Vega).

Surprising gentle and touching this examination of the modern family life and the various values different cultures hold dear is eminently watchable. Sandler proves effective as the head of the household - and yes, he does get his chance to shout - while Leoni is in good form as the recently laid-off Deborah, all bundles of nervous energy. But the real find here is Spanish star Vega. She oozes appeal as Flor, the housekeeper who's struggling to keep her daughter from completely abandoning her Mexican heritage while she herself is finally facing up to the challenge that she's so far managed to avoid despite living in LA - learning English.

Ok, so it might not appeal to your typical Saturday night multiplex crowd but for the more reserved and introspective viewer, it's well worth taking lessons in "Spanglish".