Sara González

I’m taking a risk here, but I am writing a review and I haven’t watched the whole movie. I simply couldn’t. That should tell you something.The beginning was fine; I thought that the concept was interesting, I haven’t seen many other movies told through the perspective of a college admissions essay. The set up was good, a poor single mother looking for work in a rich neighborhood. I even thought the acting was ok. But all of this stopped the second that Deborah stepped into frame. Deb is the rich housewife of the family that the single mom, Flor, works for. She is supposed to be an uptight character who micro manages and controls her family but her character is taken too far. I mean, even the worst antagonists can evoke feelings of pity from the audience. I, however, felt no pity for her whatsoever. I watched the beginning of this movie in a public setting, so I couldn’t yell or scream or throw a chair at the screen, but trust me, I wanted to. It’s not the acting I have a problem with (actually I feel sorry for Tea Leoni wasting her talent on this character). But it’s the incessant annoyance and yelling that really made me want to stop watching this. And if this wasn’t bad enough, her character is also incredibly shallow! She is obsessed with appearances and even ignores her own kid to go off with Flor’s kid just because she doesn’t like the way she looks! Now, I won’t say that this entire movie was ruined by one character, because this film has multiple problems. This film was originally advertised as a comedy, and with Adam Sandler starring one would think it would actually be funny. But no. Their attempt at comedy was so pathetic, that’s actually the part that made me laugh. Oh and let’s not forget Georgie. WHO? Yeah, Georgie the all important little brother who gives about three vague lines in the beginning that is somehow supposed to start the conflict. Don’t feel bad if you don’t remember him, I almost forgot about him myself. So let’s see, we got annoying antagonist, failed comedy, and flat forgotten character. What am I missing? Hmmm.,, oh, maybe the 50 MILLION ROMANCE SUB PLOTS? I mean was this supposed to be a family-friendly rom com? Overall I managed to drag myself through the first 3 quarters, but couldn’t bear to let my eyes witness the presumably cheesy or awful ending. Never in my life will I get those hours of my life back. Heed my warning, lest you want to end up like me.

I will never get those 2 hours of my life back. I will be lying on my death bed, my sole regret being that I was so naive as to watch this abomination of a film. It hasn’t given me nightmares yet but if any film will, it will be this one. Do not watch unless you enjoy rip offs, blatant advertising, poor acting, and a seriously mainstream 80’s plot.