In "Spanglish," the writer-director takes a very typical Southland situation -- a Latina housekeeper gets hired in a troubled and pampered Anglo household -- then gets past the stereotypes as swiftly as possible to delve into issues of child-rearing and cultural estrangement in a comic take on "family values" that has nothing to do with the hijacking of that term by the radical right. The picture belongs to Spanish actress Paz Vega, as dazzling as she is improbable as the poor Mexican maid. Yet there is genuinely fine acting -- yes, acting -- from Adam Sandler to go along with terrific supporting turns by Tea Leoni and Cloris Leachman.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.