Cast: Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, Ben Foster, Juancho Hernangómez, Robert Duvall, Anthony Edwards
Director: Jeremiah Zagar
Genre: Sports Drama
Duration: 117 minutes
Now streaming on Netflix
Adam Sandler can really star in any movie and make it work. Sometimes it is a hit and miss, other times, like in Hustle, it is a hit. In Hustle, Sandler is a basketball scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. During a scouting trip that is not going too great in Spain, he stumbles upon a player with talent, and convinces him to travel back with him to the US to try out for the NBA. Unfortunately, Stanley does not get along with Vincent, the owner of the 76ers, so getting Bo on the team is out of the question. But Stanley is not deterred. He is determined to get him going pro, and it soon becomes a family affair.
Hustle is a sports drama but you do not have to be a sports/basketball fan to watch it. Of course you will get a better kick for it if you love basketball because several NBA players make an appearance as themselves. But besides the sport, the movie tackles deep family dynamics that will both charm you, and get you understanding why Bo’s temperament is the way it is. I also love that it does not go the route of concentrating on building athletic strength but also the importance of mental strenghth in order to handle not just the sport but whatever else is happening in the athlete’s life.
The start of the movie is a little shaky, which is the only fault that jumped out at me. But when it picks up, it keeps going. Hustle also has strong language so it might not be as family-friendly as it seems. Other than that, this is a good watch for the evening.
–Grace Kenganzi
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