A middle-aged guy, dreams dwindling, facing the condescending ire of a younger boss, Hustle, the newest Adam Sandler movie on Netflix, has everything a dad like me can feel. The flim is serious, goofy, poignant, authentic, and, thankfully, NOT Zohan.
Spoiler Free Summary
The story line is straight-forward: Sandler plays Stanley Sugerman, an international talent scout for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. For decades Sugerman has traveled the world on behalf of the team in search of the next big basketball star, a move that he hopes will earn him a promotion to the Sixer’s coaching staff. The road has beaten Sugerman down and he’s fed up – acknowledging missing his daughter’s birthdays and virtually all family related functions for his entire career spanning thirty years.
The plot takes several turns – exploring Sandler as a father, devoted employee, basketball guru, international fast food aficionado, business man, respected prospector of talent, and former Division I ball player. Sandler plays it all so well with a few flashes of his standard comedic wit.
Mostly, though, Sugerman is portrayed as quiet, obedience, sensitive, and self-aware as he mentors Bo Cruz (Juanho Hernangómez) toward NBA Draft readiness.
The Not So Good
While I found Adam Sandler’s performance to be exemplary, there were a couple of odd moments.
First, a few comedic interactions seemed forced. One in particular where Sandler used Google translate on a bus in Spain was too simple and cheap. Another aspect of the movie I didn’t love was the usage of social media to garner support for entrance of the NBA prospect into the draft combine. This part of the flim felt overly simple given the complexity of the situation Sugerman and Cruz faced.
The Good
For me, a good sports movie must display a keen sense of the character’s ability to play the game they are acting within. The basketball action in Hustle was superb. Hustle is filled with cameos of famous athletes – the action on the court is NBA level and as real as it gets (ie: not Teen Wolf like). Sandler’s affinity for the game can be felt through his mannerisms and his natural fit for appearing like a coach. Supporting roles from Kenny “the Jet” Smith and Queen Latifah were solid and added to the athletic credibility of the movie for me.
Despite a couple of forced moments, Hustle makes me want to see Adam Sandler play more serious characters. He is tender in spots and feisty in others. Sandler is certainly the star of the Hustle without being over the top self-indulgent, loud, or obnoxious.
I loved Hustle in the Netflix format of my own couch and television. The length was perfect for my older kids to key in. There are very few “hide your eye” moments, but colorful language does appear throughout (if you have little ones).
All-in-all, a very good use of two quiet family hours and, I think, a foreshadowing of the roles middle aged dads will enjoy seeing Adam Sandler play in the future.
GBD Rating: 3.8/5
