Adam Sandler has starred in some memorable movies over the years, from Big Daddy to The Water Boy, Happy Gilmour to The Wedding Singer. When choosing a movie to watch at home with your family, you know you can rely on the quick wit of Sandler to produce two hours packed with laughs.
The 55-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, has already left behind a legacy in the movie industry, but he isn’t done yet. Adam continues to churn out great movies, so much so there’s often no need to read the description on TV. You know what you’re getting with Sandler, and you know it’ll be great. But he has been known to throw in the odd curveball now and again. Just to remind us that he isn’t a one-dimensional actor or filmmaker.
His latest release, entitled Hustle, falls into this category. The name of this movie may sound familiar, but it’s not to be confused with the J-Lo dressed to impress or, indeed, the Hustler starring Paul Newman that inspired pool fans to gamble at the top sports betting sites. As you can already guess - Sandler’s Netflix movie Hustle is a bit different. It’s done his way, and there’s nothing else quite like it.
A curse on the industry
What’s the story behind Hustle? Is Sandler in good form, and what can we expect. Is this another slapstick comedy that will leave viewers roaring in fits of laughter, or do we have one of his curveballs here where he’s a tad more serious in his storytelling?
Well - a note of caution - Sandler did promise in 2019 that he would come back and make a painfully bad movie if he didn’t win an Oscar for Uncut Gems. Is he about to make good on his promise to punish the movie industry? It’s possible, but thankfully that’s not the case here. Hustle is brilliant. Phew.
There may be no J-Lo strutting her stuff or pool sharks, but this film does attack the drama-filled, fast-paced and often seedy world of basketball recruitment. Adam plays the lead character Stanley Sugarman is tasked with recruiting talented players for a team with big ambitions. He is on the lookout for the best of the best, a mix of skill and dedication, heart and muscle. That may sound like a dream job for any sports fan but as the viewer quickly realises, finding and signing good players is easier said than done.
The demands of his job means he doesn’t spend anywhere near enough time with his family and which leads to him becoming obsessed with his duties. That’s far from ideal, but when coupled with the fact his team needs a vital, against all the odds win, we now get a clearer idea of what to expect from the Hustle.
Hustle doesn’t pull any punches
This movie is not without an element of comedy, and there are some funny bits that show there’s more wit to Sandler’s laughs than the foolishness of Waterboy. But it’s more emotional and thought-provoking. In one particularly moving scene, Sandler’s character tells of missing his daughter's birthday nine years on the bounce. It doesn’t sit well with him - as you can imagine - but only for a second. He consoles himself by explaining it away as being the guy that finds the guy. He is on the lookout for a team of players than can cut it in the NBA, and that appears more important to him.
In the same scene, Adam says he must do what’s right for the kids. That leaves the viewer shouting at the screen, “what about your own kids”. Are they less important to Stanley Sugarman, or is he breaking his back in a demanding job all for the family left behind at home? That’s up to the lead character to decide for himself. As the viewer, we are lucky enough to join him on that voyage of discovery.
The cast of Hustle includes some big names other than Sandler, so rest assured it’s not the plague film that was forecast. You’ll see Queen Latifah, Robert Duvall, Ben Foster, and Jaleel White. Sandler is the executive producer with LeBron James.