Hustle

This is an article ‘Hustle’ by Marc Primo

Release date: 08 June 2022 (United States)

Director: Jeremiah Zagar

Language: English

Production companies:

Happy Madison Productions, SpringHill Company, Roth/Kirschenbaum Films

Producer: LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Joe Roth, Joseph Vecsey, Jeff Kirschenbaum, Zack Roth, Adam Sandler, Allen Covert

Finally, Adam Sandler fans can't deny that the funnyman is back to making quality movies after an extended slump of sub-par releases. His latest, Hustle, a follow-up winner from his 2021 blockbuster Uncut Gems, is a testament to how the actor has reinvented himself as one of the most versatile actors in today's age of cinema.

Any true blue Sandler fan will miss the quick and irreverent comic pot shots from his old hits. Still, the Jeremiah Zagar-helmed Hustle levels up the actor's game in terms of storytelling efficiency and audience engagement.

It's quite a relief to see Sandler do something of higher quality than simply gathering his best pals to shoot a film in various locations out of somewhat hastily prepared scripts. Of all the Netflix-distributed films the actor has released via his Happy Madison outfit, Hustle stands out as the only award-worthy production. While Uncut Gems was not under Happy Madison, it still is the best of all the films Sandler released on the streaming platform.

So, what makes Hustle worthy of your time? Here are the top reasons we came up with:

It tells us which direction Sandler might be going

Comparing Hustle with other Sandler-led dramedies such as The Longest Yard, Reign on Me, Punch Drunk Love, or Spanglish – all of which were great in their own right - gives fans a clue of how the actor has matured in terms of approaching the tricky genre. Combining the grandeur of the NBA with a never-say-die plot from two perspectives that take viewers worldwide seems like a good place to start Sandler's engine. At the film's beginning, the audience will wonder where the ride will take them, but it's easy enough to be convinced that it will be exciting.

The tag team writing of Taylor Materne and Will Fetters works well with Sandler's brand of out-of-the-blue punchlines during most of the film's dialogue without jeopardizing the drama presented on the screen. It's easy for audiences to sense which ones should be light and funny and which ones should be taken seriously. And make no mistake about it – Hustle is a serious film about every fan's love for basketball but with a heart that anyone can generally find relevant in their lives.

While Hustle's formula might be a familiar one, the pacing and character dynamics of the film give it a genuine vibe that can make a non-basketball fan fall in love with the game. Sandler's acting in Hustle might indicate that he is looking to shed his goofy persona for good in exchange for more authentic and relatable characters. Past offerings have shown that side of him, but Hustle is where he and the audience will find the perfect balance of funny, warm, and authenticity that works best for the actor.

It's a love story of epic proportions

While it's not Titanic, Hustle is a love story about NBA history and its legendary players. Having Lebron James on board as a producer, the film also features such legends as Julius' Dr. J' Erving, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Dirk Nowitzki, Allen Iverson, and Shaquille O Neal, among many others.

For lead roles, there are also active NBA players Juancho Hernangómez as Bo Cruz and Anthony Edwards as Kermit Wilts. Sandler plays Philadelphia 76ers scout and aspiring assistant coach Stanley Sugerman, and completing the main cast are Queen Latifah (Teresa Sugerman), Ben Foster (Vince Merrick), Heidi Gardner (Kat Merrick), and the legendary Robert Duvall (Rex Merrick).

The film begins with Stanley Sugarman scouting a player for the Sixers as the new NBA season's draft approaches. Team owner Rex Merrick believes in Stanley's value as a scout and tells him it's about time he gets promoted to the bench as an assistant coach. Unfortunately, Rex's untimely death puts his son Vince in the head seat, a character who doesn't share Rex's fondness for Stanley.

After a failed draft pick, Vince removes Stanley from the bench and re-assigns him to look for a potential draft for the upcoming season, much to Stanley and his family's dismay. With no other choice, he does it anyway and roams the world until he finds himself in the street courts of Spain watching a natural forward with quick guard moves in construction worker Bo Sanchez.

Being turned down by Vince for having a criminal record that we eventually find as one that concerned his beloved daughter Lucia (Ainhoa Pillet), Bo is encouraged by Stanley to continue training for the NBA Combine. There, he gets to meet his most annoying distraction, the trash-talking and anticipated number 1 draft pick, Kermit Wilts. Bo's training, slightly resembling a Rocky-type montage, takes him deeper in love with basketball and the human faith that comes with genuine coaches like Stanley adamantly looking out for their steeds.

It deserves a championship ring

Hustle possesses all the elements that make for worthy viewing. It's funny and depressing in all the right places, and the hero's journey is not clouded with fluff and is effectively told in a straight story any movie fan can appreciate.

Props go to Sandler's castmates, particularly Hernangómez and Smith, who both never had any previous acting experience but deliver impressive performances nonetheless. Of course, we know they are not acting on the court, but for out-of-the-court scenes (and we would like to believe that Smith is not as nasty in real life as his character on film when it comes to trash talking), both shine as genuine characters.

Somehow, the film is a wish fulfilled for most fans who are crossing their fingers for an undeniable Sandler resurrection. After viewing Hustle, it will convince you that the Saturday Night Live alumnus is more than just all the punchlines that made him a household name.

By the film's end, audiences will realize it's simply another of Sandler's ploys to gather all his favorites. Only this time, he gathers his basketball heroes rather than his closest friends. Paying tribute to such a historic and enduring institution as the NBA and all of the great names that it has produced for generations make this love story a true champion. And that's whether you care about the game or not.