What a pleasant surprise! A film with a good plot, developed characters, good acting and excellent direction. It's in the romantic comedy genre, but it should be called a relationship comedy. It is about relationships, their problems and challenges, but most of all the storyline and certainly the final drama are plot-driven by the responsibilities of parenting.

The beginning is epistolary; an application with an essay submitted to Princeton University by Cristina Moreno. This essay, of course, is the story. The principle protagonist in this essay/story is Cristina's mother Flor, but she shares the spotlight with the two employers she finds in Los Angeles after emigrating from Mexico with her daughter. These three characters are developed in a comedy of interactions that make use of situational differences, emotional role reversals, cultural differences and personal crises. The conflicts in these differences builds a discomfort which is relieved by both physical and dialogue comedy. This is all performed easily and naturally, primarily because the situations are intrinsically human. The story converges toward an emotional nexus that is heartfelt and executed beautifully and a conclusion that is absolutely believable.

I found it only necessary to suspend my disbelief about the amazing congregation of such beautiful people and the venues chosen presumably on a chef's salary. But the rest was so good, I found this easy to do.

I attribute much of the success of this film to the artistic direction and screenplay sensitivity of Jim Brooks. He developed the TV series, The Simpsons (1989) and he wrote and directed Terms of Endearment (1983), Broadcast News (1987) and As Good As It Gets (1997). These are only a sample of his accomplishments. I can't begin to list all his impressive achievements.

Paz Vega plays Flor Moreno, a drop-dead-gorgeous Mexican émigré. She was born in Spain and she began her career in Spanish television before her film successes. Adam Sandler, an actor I have routinely disliked, is outstanding in this story as a successful chef, a sensitive man and a truly caring father. I have new respect for his ability. Téa Leoni does a wonderful job of portraying his neurotic beautiful wife, in crisis after losing her corporate executive identity.

In the DVD Special Features, HBO first look; The Making of Spanglish is interesting and worth watching. It's also worth a few minutes to 'click' the 'more' at the bottom of the Special Features list and watch a short additional clip called Late Night BLT Sandwich with Fried Egg and Cheese about 'the best sandwich in the world'. The sandwich is part of the movie.

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and brief language.