Spanglish revolves around Flor Moreno (Paz Vega) a single mother from Mexico moves to America for a new start.  Needing money to support her young daughter Christina (Shelbie Bruce) Flor gets a job as housekeeper/nanny for the Clasky family.  The Clasky family have problems, mainly Deborah Clasky (Tia Leoni) who is unrelenting in her demands on husband John (Adam Sandler) and their two children, particularly daughter Bernice (Sarah Steele).  Despite her efforts and desire not to Flor becomes more and more engrained into the lives of the Clasky family, just as they become more and more involved in her life, which causes much friction and on the part of John and Flor, a simmering attraction. 

Perhaps the best thing about Spanglish is that all the characters are flawed, they are real people, and the talented cast brings them to life; quirks and all.  Indeed this is not the Billy Madison/Happy Gilmore man child Sandler his fans would be used to seeing; here he is very laid back and natural as the talented chef and long suffering husband John to Leoni’s Deborah.  Tia Leoni knocks it out of the park as Deborah the neurotic narcissist who drives her entire family up the wall with her self absorption and inconsideration of others thoughts, feelings and wishes.  Whilst Leonie is very good in the part, it is just a shame she is playing such a thoroughly un-likable character, even her epiphany comes to late to redeem her. 

Paz Vega as Flor is very likable, bringing a naiveté to her performance and an underlying strength - which she struggles to hold onto.   She works well with Sandler and they have a very believable chemistry, her interactions with Steele who plays Bernice the Clasky’s daughter are also enjoyable.  Perhaps the biggest highlight of the cast is Cloris Leachman as Evelyn, Deborah’s alcoholic mother, who knows and sees more than she lets on – providing many moments of comic relief.   

However despite a strong cast Spanglish does start to lose its way towards the end, and not all the plotlines are wrapped up satisfactorily, oddly it is the relationship between Flor and her daughter that gets the most resolution even though it gets the least screen time - and this is despite the film being narrated by Flor’s daughter Christina (Shelbie Bruce).  Spanglish wasn’t the romantic comedy I was expecting, neither was it a full blown drama, but it does it occupy an entertaining middle ground. 

The disc comes loaded with special features including an audio commentary with writer/director James L. Brooks, behind the scenes features, casting sessions/auditions, extra scenes and a short feature on how to make the world’s greatest sandwich – which I must say did look quite good; overall a good extras package for a good if not great film.