Quirky. Charming. Perplexing. Entertaining. Full of Heart. Some Kleenex please.

So many thoughts were running through my mind at the conclusion of this movie. Starring Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, gorgeous newcomer (to the mainstream US scene) Paz Vega, Cloris Leachman and supported by two appealing youngsters Shelbie Bruce and Sarah Steele the movie tells the story of a Mexican woman (Flor) and her daughter’s move to America for a better life. Flor (Vega) is hired by Deborah Clasky (Leoni), wife of celebrated chef John Clasky (Sandler), as a housekeeper for the Clasky’s. What follows is a mix of drama, comedy and romance – a movie that is difficult to pigeon hole.

The appeal in the movie comes not from the story but from the characters themselves as two cultures and two families strive to live together under one roof. All three lead actors give heart felt performances. Sandler was barely recognisable as the gentle, patient, generous star chef and loving father, Leoni’s manic Deborah was almost unbearable in her bearing, yet you had to admire the gusto with which Leoni tackled this role, and Vega was downright sweet. The standout performance for me had to be Sarah Steele, who played the Clasky daughter Bernice. Its difficult to put in words but I like one of Flor’s line in the movie when she is talking with Sandler about his daughter: “Nothing is going to change that heart.”

The more I think about this movie the more it grows on me.