Grade: B+

James L. Brooks directs – he’s so good. What’s great about Spanglish is that it’s not another one of those “dumb dad” movies. Adam Sandler plays the dad in a pretty straight role, a stretch from his usual slapstick fare. He’s good in this, I liked him a lot. Tea Leoni is the mom, and she just might get a nomination for her performance. Really real, raw, and at the same time relatable. She’s always been one of my favorite actresses, and this is a great role for her. Cloris Leachman is a hoot as her mother. Priceless! Paz Vega is the housekeeper who comes in and exposes the family to another world and forces them to look at themselves more closely.