Tea Leoni

It is an American comedy-drama movie in 2004 directed and written by James L. Brooks , and starring Tea Leoni , Adam Sandler , and Paz Vega.

It was released by Gracie Films and Columbia Pictures in USA on December 17, 2004 and then over the first several months of 2005 in other countries.

It achieved $55,041,367 worldwide, less than the $80 million production budget.

Casts:

Plot of the movie:

The story of the movie opens with Cristina Moreno application to Princeton University , telling her own childhood story.

A rich American family hired a poor Mexican single mother ( Flor Moreno ) as a housekeeper and the family include the father John who is a head chef at a popular restaurant and his wife Deborah Clasky is a former businesswoman  turned to home – mother, and her mother Evelyn Wright who is alcoholic mother and a former jazz singer. Their kids are Bernice and Georgie .

Flor doesn’t speak English very well and she doesn’t mention that she has a daughter , Cristina. Deborah is unfriendly and uptight , she behaves and upset both households, in contrast , John, Georgie, Bernice, and Evelyn are kind people.

The summer comes and Flor needed 24/7 at the Claskys’ summer home. She doesn’t to explain well in English , but Deborah finds a neighbor can interpret for them . Flor admits that she has a daughter and she can work these hours. So they reach to invite her to live in their home and works as interrupter for her mother.  Deborah is impressed by Cristina and she begins to treat her like her daughter , taking her to shopping, getting her hair done, enrolling her a private school, she does with her more level than she does with her daughter Bernice.

Flor started to complain about influence of Cristina with Deborah , she wants her to keep in touch her Mexican roots , and she started to notice that her daughter overstepping her bounds. Flor told John , who apologizes , but she got angry when she knew that John  gave Cristina $600 for minor task, and she will leave the home , but John convince her to stay for the sake of her daughter.

Flor becomes better in English and more close to John who has lack of understanding  with his wife.

Evelyn knew that her daughter has an affair and her marriage is in trouble, she pleads with her daughter to end that affair but Deborah admits to John that she cheated him, and John walks out then  he rides with Flor in his car , then they go to the restaurant where he cooks for her and they enjoy in conversation and felling love for each another.

Flor quits and takes her daughter telling her that’s he can’t go to the private school anymore, Cristina got angry from her mother but in the end they make up and embrace . and after Cristina becomes adult she remembered and knew well that her life rests happily and firmly on the simple fact that she is her mother’s daughter.

Critical response:

It received a positive review of  53% of critics.

Let’s now see the trailer of the movie