Shelbie Bruce does a fantastic turn as Flor’s daughter Christina.  When she translates both sides of an argument between her mother and John, perfectly mimicking each of their tones and gestures, she not only shines but gives the film its best moment.  The other newcomer, Sarah Steele, does an equally impressive job as the big-hearted teen who struggles far more with her mother’s conditional love than she ever does with her weight.  And, as the alcoholic mother who has learned from her own mistakes, Leachman gives yet another stand-out performance that should garner her an Oscar nod.

Despite its flaws, “Spanglish” nevertheless sends an important message about marriage.  What the film tells us is that despite seemingly insurmountable hurdles, we do not have to give in to adultery.  It’s almost as if Brooks is trying to say that, even though Flor and John fall “in love,” their relationship would never work.  For that to happen, they would have to destroy an entire family.  And while that is done every day, all over America, there are few who would say that it works, or that anyone lives happily ever after.

Aiming for a cultural clash, as the title promises, Brooks instead gives us a heartwarming tale – his specialty – with an important message.  Muy bien.
 
AUDIENCE:  Adults only

OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT:

• Drugs/Alcohol Content:  Average–Heavy.  Wine and beer drinking in several scenes throughout film; one alcoholic character who drinks throughout film, then announces that she has been sober for two weeks; another character regularly drinks beer and gets drunk once.
• Language/Profanity:  Average.   About a dozen obscenities (including one f---) and half a dozen profanities (mostly “Jesus!”).
• Sexual Content/Nudity:  Average.  Married couple embrace and begin to strip off clothes to make love, then have clothed sex, after which one has orgasm atop spouse; characters are tempted by adultery and kiss, but do not go further.
• Violence:  Mild.  Drunk character falls down; characters argue.