|
|
|
|
|
Throughout his decades-long career, Adam Sandler has played a variety of goofball slackers, the occasional unlikely rom-com love interest, and a cartoon vampire. In recent years, though, he’s branched out a bit, and his career has taken a dramatic turn—to films like Netflix’s basketball drama Hustle.
Hustle stars Sandler as Stan Sugerman, an NBA scout who’s traveled the world in search of the next basketball superstar. Stan has just achieved his goal of becoming an Assistant Coach for the 76ers when his boss dies—and his son, Vince (Ben Foster), decides to send Stan back to Europe to look for the team’s missing piece. On a street court in Spain, he finds Bo Cruz (played by NBA star Juancho Hernangomez), a construction worker and single dad who can take on any opponent. And when Vince rejects him, Stan decides to work with Bo on his own.
As this young player from the streets of Spain travels to Philadelphia to work with this cranky, overweight down-and-out scout, his story lends itself to some pretty obvious comparisons to that other inspirational sports story set in Philadelphia. There’s something about the energy, the grit, and the lengthy training montage that brings back memories of Rocky Balboa running up that famous staircase. And even if you’re not hypnotized by the endless cameos—even if you’re not a basketball fan—you’ll still find it impossible not to get pulled into this against-all-odds story.
Meanwhile, Sandler may not be Burgess Meredith, but he fits right into this role. His signature sarcasm, along with his character’s passion for the sport and his dedication to this young player, make him undeniably lovable. After years of flights and hotels and missing his family, Stan is tired and disillusioned—but in Bo, he finds something worth risking his career over. Bo has a difficult past, and he struggles to get his emotions in check (especially where his daughter is concerned). But as this kid from the streets and his relentless trainer set out to change both of their lives—and the lives of Bo’s family—no matter how neatly the story fits into the usual inspirational sports drama formulas, you can’t help but root for this unlikely duo to overcome one obstacle after another.
Whether you’re in need of a basketball fix while you wait for the next game in the NBA finals or you just need a little inspiration after another long, tiring week, the likable characters and sports action of Hustle make this heartwarming sports story a worthwhile pick for some weekend viewing.
Hustle is now available for streaming on Netflix.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
|
|
|
|
