No matter how well-intentioned, the people who love us most will often project their dreams, fears, and beliefs onto us. In my experience, this is especially common for children of first-generation immigrants, many of whom face significant pressures to lead better lives in return for the sacrifices their parents have made.
Parents need to know that Hustle stars Adam Sandler and is set in the world of professional basketball. It has tons of strong language and on- and off-court tussles and taunting, but the main characters are kind, generous, and hardworking. There's diversity in the cast, and men are portrayed as loving fathers and spouses. Characters demonstrate perseverance, pushing through physical, financial, and emotional obstacles to pursue their dreams and goals. Still, expect pushing, fighting, and mean-spirited taunts between players on and off the court, as well as references to drunk driving and an assault charge. Swearing includes constant use of words like "f--k," "motherf----r," "s--t," "ass," "hell," "bitch," "goddamn," "hell," "suck," "cocky bastard," "whore," "Jesus Christ" (used as an exclamation), "t-tties," "balls," "idiot," "stupid," "heck," and more.
This sports film will delight basketball fans, but at heart, it's a tender relationship tale about two men and their journey to finally live up to their full potential. Sugerman and Cruz also discover a father/son-like bond in Hustle, which is underscored in a moving scene in which Bo's mother advises him not to ignore the love and dedication that Sugerman has shown him -- and again in a symbolic tattoo that one character gets. The film soars thanks to Sandler's star performance: He toggles seamlessly between drama and comedy (the latter thankfully understated here). As an actor, mature roles like this are where Sandler does his best work. As a character, Sugerman has settled into middle age. "Guys in their fifties don't have dreams -- they have nightmares and eczema," he says, but he does still have a dream -- and Bo embodies it. Pro player Hernangomez is excellent as a talented ingenue with both a temper and a heart of gold.
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