In this film John Clasky (Adam Sandler) plays an award winning chef living with his wife Deborah Clasky (Tea Leoni) who is a neurotic and self-centered woman. Flor Moreno (Paz Vega) leaves Mexico with her daughter to the U.S. to search for a better life. Flor realizes that she cannot raise her daughter properly working two jobs, so she takes up a job as a housekeeper with the Clasky’s in a rich suburbanite neighborhood.

The movie has stellar performances from all the cast. I think many people that see this film will miss many of the subtle points because of cultural differences (just like anyone who does not understand a culture may miss some of the minor yet important innuendos). This film by James L. Brooks has much to say on U.S. culture – and whether he rejects it or not can be left up to the viewer.

Flor is the antithesis of Deborah; completely sacrificing everything for her family. Everything is placed in front of her and that is the sacrifice she makes. John, it can be said, is also sacrificing himself for putting up with Deborah for the sake of his family.

The over the top performance by Tea Leoni (great job too) represents the worst of American culture; it represents everything that is egoism and narcissism. If anything, this film was an entertaining film with a strong message.

[Own opinion and commentary]

I found this film to be more of a commentary on U.S. culture and values. Flor is everything Deborah is not…family oriented, hardworking, caring, voluptuous, and understanding. Even her name has some symbolic meaning to it – Flor is flower in Spanish.

In the film we see the subtle assimilation of Flor’s daughter into American culture. Flor realizes at one point that she has to take her daughter out of that environment. The daughter actually chooses to maintain her cultural roots and the importance of family – even as she applies to Princeton her personal statement reads that her family is the number one priority.

There is a scene in the film where Tea Leoni barks out orders to her husband about raising their two kids saying “I’ve read countless books on parenting!” – implying that reading, knowledge, and money is more important than self-sacrifice in raising a family. There is a scene early in the movie that indicates this; Flor’s cousin goes with her to get the job at the Clasky’s home and runs into a glass window – her nose is bleeding. Deborah comes over, gives her money and states “is that bad?” This scene is comical but sad at the same time since so much truth is laden in the scene. Sometimes there is prevalence in our culture that anything in upper-suburbanite neighborhoods, can be taken care of with money. This is not the case all the time but just taking a look at many families that I know this is just a necessity of life when both partners are working 60+ hours a week.

The contrast of the over talkative wife Deborah and the non-English speaking housekeeper Flor is very telling. John falls in love with a woman he can barely talk to; but the reality is that caring, understanding, and love go beyond just words (as is highly indicated by the chatty Deborah). There is a scene where Deborah cheats on her husband, and wants to “talk it out” and solve it. A lack of self-control or over self-indulgence? I think the movie tries to point out that sometimes things are better left unsaid.

John definitely falls for Flor and later on, Flor falls for John. They both see in each other the best of both cultures. Flor who has an unrelenting love for her family – willing to sacrifice everything and anything for them. A voluptuous woman that is proud of who she is in every way. Obviously any man would be hard pressed not to fall for Paz Vega but I think what Brooks is trying to show is very clear (in contrast to Tea Leoni who is a work-out fiend and very thin and not womanly at all). And in the same vain, Flor falls for John who isn’t filled with Machismo – he is a sensitive man, career and family oriented, and quite. At one point in the film he cries with Flor in the car and she runs out not knowing how to respond to that. They fall in love with each other but do not commit to anything for the sake of their kids. Here lies the difference between what values are more important. Flor and John are absolutely compatible, yet aren’t together because family is number one in their lives. It’s ironic in a way because I consider myself very traditional in the Latino sense, yet I was still rooting for them to be together.

Growing up Mexican-American, I could literally relate with many of the things going on (especially with Flor’s daughter who has to wrestle with American culture and maintaining traditional roots from Mexico). I also had to translate things to my dad (my mom speaks Spanish but understands English - my dad only speaks English but undertands Spanish; he is Germen...so when they would argue they would tell me to translate in the midst of disagreement and I would sugarcoat things to make them sound better!). Back from that sidenote, the daughter in the end chooses a more traditional route – yet still applies to an Ivy League school. She is defined by who her family is and her culture, not by what she has or will have. Being 23 years old I feel that my generation (each generation has a battle to choose from) has a very difficult time in maintaining a nuclear family or placing family before career. Growing up with this ingrained in my views, it is becoming apparent that there are very few people that will put family ahead of everything. The balance between career and family is important – but family needs to be first at all cost in my view. There is a radical shift going on in my generation and people are realizing that having a big home, better car, and larger income are simply not going to fill the void of valuing family. In an increasing world where everything has a price there is a misconception that money can solve all ills. Money is important but there are more important things. This film was a very pleasant movie with a very deep cultural commentary. I definitely recommend it.



Recommended:
Yes