Stanley is in a professional slump. A once highly respected NBA scout, he has seen his star fade, having not discovered a new talent in a while. The taking over of the team that employs him by an arrogant heir does not help his cause. So he goes from town to town, from country to country, worn out, amorphous, stuffed as he is with junk food in luxury suites. But now in Spain, hope is reborn at the sight of a young man with obvious, albeit raw, talent. Both the story of a return to life and the tale of an unlikely champion, Hustle (The top of the basket) features an inspired Adam Sandler.
The actor is well surrounded, in particular by Queen Latifah, who admirably pulls out of the game in the somewhat underwritten role of Stanley’s spouse. She and Sandler share real chemistry. Essential to the credibility of the film, Juancho Hernangómez (of the Utah Jazz) proves to be very comfortable in the role of Bo, the rookie on whom Stanley is ready to risk everything.
Co-produced by star basketball star LeBron James, Hustle benefits in this regard from the presence of a myriad of NBA players and personalities. This additional authenticity is welcome, the film whistling a familiar tune. Will Stanley triumph over adversity? Will his protege succeed in honing his talent (insert training montages at the rocky) on time ? Above all, will Bo manage to control his hot temper enough to explode this incredible potential that Stanley detected in him?
Anyone who has seen even two or three sports dramas already knows the answers to these questions.
Shade work
Nevertheless, everything is smoothly conducted, without downtime or aside. Often, the drama is colored with humor, just enough. The authors, Will Fetters, co-writer ofA Star Is Born (A star Is Born), and Taylor Materne, co-screenwriter of the video game NBA 2K20are clearly aware of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in the chosen formula, so they go straight to the point by relying on economical writing and tried and tested processes (such as those “painful-secrets-of-the-past” that Stanley and Bo as psychological depth, or those very hateful antagonists).
Not particularly imaginative (apart from a nice sequence, at the beginning, illustrating the repetitive nature of Stanley’s travels), but full of energy, the realization of Jeremiah Zagar is in tune. We let ourselves be carried away by the action instead of thinking about it: that is the goal.
After having impressed in the excellent Uncut Gems (Rough diamond), then being returned to his comedic comfort zone with hubie halloween, Adam Sandler returns to the serious vein of his register. Admittedly, Stanley is a less “showy” role than Howard in Uncut Gems, but what Sandler offers here is a very, very fine work of nuances. A good part of his game goes through his gaze, which he has alternately weary, resigned, then suddenly bright as the evidence of a second chance takes shape.
In fact, if Hustle had been inspired more by the approach favored by its star, perhaps the film could have aspired to excellence, joining sports fairy tales with a backdrop of redemption such as The Natural (the better), Hoosiers (The big challenge),Bull Durham (The beauty and the veteran) or yes, rocky. As is, Hustle is an honest and entertaining production. It’s already that.