When it comes to his dramatic work,Adam Sandlerhas found just the right approach for himself. Sandler has taken on roles that if they were a bit broader, could easily be one of his comedic roles. Films likePunch-Drunk LoveorReign Over Meplayed off the rage that often hides under the soft-spoken attitude of Sandler’s characters, while his last dramatic role inUncut Gemsmaximized Sandler’s inherent charm and grandiosity into what might be his best performance.
Sandler’s latest excursion into drama withJeremiah Zagar’sHustleharnesses Sandler’s clear love for sports. That love has been obvious since early on in his career, withHappy Gilmore,The Waterboy, andThe Longest Yard, and evenKevin Garnettplaying a major part inUncut Gems. But while these films had fun with Sandler’s admiration for sports,Hustleturns it into a strength, showcasing a heartfelt love for the game of basketball, in a film that once again proves that Sandler’s greatest gifts lie in how he utilizes the talents he has learned from years in comedy and molding them into wonderful dramatic roles.
InHustle, Sandler plays Stanley Sugerman, a former basketball player-turned-talent scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s tired of spending weeks on the road, looking for the next great thing in basketball, and when the team’s owner (Robert Duvall) offers him an assistant coach position, it looks like he’s finally where he’s wanted to be for so long. But as the team turns over to the manager’s son (Ben Foster), Stanley is sent back on the road, with promises that if he finds the team’s missing piece, he’ll be back in the coaching gig.
RELATED:‘Billy Madison’ Isn’t Just Funny — It’s a Surrealist Masterpiece
Stanley thinks he finds what he’s looking for with a one-on-one basketball hustler, Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangomez), who takes to the court in boots and lives with his mother and daughter. Stanley knows he’s found something special with Bo, but when the 76ers pass on Bo, Stanley decides to dedicate himself to the potential star and get him into the NBA.
Hustledoesn’t work without a strong bond between Stanley and Bo, and thankfully, Sandler and Hernangomez are quite lovely together. Sandler is excellent in the mentor role, and while Hernangomez isn’t much of a talker, he can say a lot with a look or his demeanor. WhileWill FettersandTaylor Materne’s screenplay is hitting many of the trainer-trainee tropes one would expect from a sports film, and Zagar’s direction fillsHustlewith one too many training montages, they also turn this dynamic into an affecting relationship about two men who desperately need someone to believe in them and find that in each other.
However, in this relationship,Hustlefocuses too much on Stanley and not enough on Bo’s life—which is often hinted at and seems even more compelling than Stanley’s. Bo has clearly had to struggle over his 22 years, with a sordid history that ends up causing him trouble throughout the film. When Bo first meets Stanley, he worries about pursuing this dream and losing his job, worried that he won’t be able to take care of his mother and daughter. There’s a worthwhile story there, but, unfortunately, Fetters and Materne don’t give him the same amount of attention they give Stanley.
Thankfully, Stanley is a fantastic lead, and his attempt to get Bo success never feels lecherous for his own needs, but rather, that Stanley is great at his job, a scout who loves basketball and wants the game—and the players he finds—to be the best they can be. Again, through the performance as Stanley, we can feel Sandler’s deep love for basketball coming through, a passion that feels earnest when coming from Sandler. This doesn’t feel like just acting, this feels like a genuine part of who he is.
In addition to the bond between Stanley and Bo,Hustlealso is particularly delightful when focusing on the family relationship between Stanley, his wife Teresa (Queen Latifah), and their daughter Alex (Jordan Hull). Sandler and Latifah made an excellent team, as a couple of former athletes who found love in college, and their love is palpable whenever these two share the screen. This family dynamic also helps build up a spirit of support and caring for others thatHustlethrives in. It’s just unfortunate thatHustledoesn’t show that same level of attention to Bo’s family as it does to Stanley’s.
Of course, with this type of sports/training/mentor film,Hustlecan’t help but fall into the occasional cliché, yet that focus on support and care and a dedication to helping others reach their potential make those platitudes go down a bit easier.Hustleisn’t breaking the mold of what a sports film can be, but it is yet another reminder of Sandler’s gifts as a dramatic actor through an extremely charming and compelling story about a mentor trying to help another reach their potential.
