Charles Tackett

Solid dialogue written by James Brooks. This screenplay is charming and layered. Tea Leone, who could only be described as horribly kind and obnoxiously generous (Debrah Clasky), played an extreme character who threatens with kindness and used competition, pathos and physicality to render role that makes all the rest of the characters seem saintly. Leone is a crucible who tests every other character. Chloris Leachman's Evelyn unapologetically doled out advice from a well-spring of ironic wisdom that sprang from a life of alcoholism and promiscuity. When she says to Debrah, her daughter, "Lately, your low self-esteem is just good common sense," I had to laugh at the dialogue. At one point Evelyn, an elderly woman flew across the bedroom to tackle Clasky to keep her from "being herself" and ruining everything. Adam Sandler (John Clasky) and Paz Vega (Flor, the housekeeper) are not perfect or perfect for each other (which is entirely the point). The dialogue between them is intense and sustains a layered facet of this wholesome story of counter-relationships. It's no CG movies and there's no body count, but there is excellent dialogue and nuanced, counter-characters. I give it five stars because it's the highest score available.

A fun movie where the central character works out his values and priorities as a single dad, Ollie Trinkle, with a precocious daughter, Gertie. Adapting to the strain of loss of wife and then his job, the single-dad life forcibly resets his priorities and professional aspirations. He moves in with his father, Pop, meets an outspoken young woman, Maya, whose raw honesty lasers through his practiced defenses, and persuades her way into the extended family as a perfect fit. Things go awry when he tries to un-reinvent himself and return to his old life.