Adam Sandler's new basketball movie is surprisingly sweet, thanks to his NBA co-star

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

June 3, 2022 at 10:00 AM·4 min read

The phrase “Adam Sandler movie” inspires a certain reaction.

Typically, that reaction is a groan — not another one? Another broad comedy with lazy writing and perfunctory acting, with lots of gratuitous guest spots from his friends? How many “Grown Ups” movies can he inflict upon us?

Yet every now and then — “Uncut Gems” is an excellent example — Sandler surprises us by actually trying.

That’s what he’s doing in “Hustle,” his latest film and an obvious labor of love. It’s a sweet movie, smooth and pleasant. It isn’t the nervous breakdown “Uncut Gems” is, and it’s also not as good.

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This is the Adam Sandler more like the one in 'Uncut Gems'

But that’s OK. “Uncut Gems” was really good, and Sandler has never been better. But “Hustle” is also good, giving Sandler a comfortable role that allows him to showcase his comedic chops in a gentle way, while allowing room for his underrated skills as a dramatic actor.

Plus, there is a ton of basketball. And Sandler loves basketball.

He plays Stanley Sugerman, a longtime scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. Director Jeremiah Zagar gives us an early montage that illustrates Stanley’s nonstop travel through Europe, searching for the next great undiscovered player — and the urgency to discover him before anyone else does.

The team owner (Robert Duvall) loves Stanley, and promotes him to assistant coach. The owner's weasel of a son (Ben Foster) does not, and demotes him.

And before you get too excited that a couple of great actors like Duvall and Foster are in the film, you should know that they aren’t in it much.

This is the story of two people: Stanley and Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangomez, a real-life NBA player). Both are looking for redemption, and the only place they’re going to find it is with each other.

Yes, if you have watched more than four or five movies, you probably recognize the setup. It’s the execution that makes “Hustle” more than just a run-of-the-mill sports film. Not always a lot more, but more.

The best thing going for “Hustle” is the chemistry between Sandler and Hernangomez, who plays for the Utah Jazz and is outstanding in his acting debut. It’s genuine, seemingly. Neither fully trusts the other at first, but they’ll work through that of course. (Again, originality is not the strong suit here.)

The 76ers aren’t interested in Bo, so Stanley pays for him to travel from his home in Spain, where Stanley discovers Bo dominating at a park while wearing construction boots, to the U.S., where he hopes to get him a shot at the NBA combine, where players are evaluated for the draft.

Stanley really wants the coaching job. He’s missed his daughter’s last nine birthdays, he says. His wife (Queen Latifah) encourages him to be bold — until he actually is bold, and then has second thoughts.

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There are great cameos, including Dr. J, Trae Young and Charles Barkley

There’s a lot of warm humor in the film, which is another way of saying Sandler is funny but restrained. And there is an absolute smorgasbord of cameos of basketball players and coaches, including Dr. J., the great Julius Erving; Trae Young; Brad Stevens; Jay Wright; Charles Barkley; and more.

Kenny Smith, the former player turned TNT studio analyst along with Barkley, has a bigger role — that of a super-agent who is close to his former college teammate Stanley, with a backstory that is not as powerful as it might be.

But it is, at least, a story. This is not Sandler phoning it in. He’s a unique actor and producer in that what he does best hasn’t proved as lucrative — extremely lucrative — as what comes easy to him. It’s great to see him in films like “Hustle.” But if you’re a fan of the other work he does, have no fear: “Murder Mystery 2” is coming soon enough.

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