Hustle Review: Adam Sandler Hits The Right Notes In Netflix's NBA Drama
Hustleutilizes a little bit of everything Adam Sandler (Billy Madison) excels at to make a comforting sports dramedy that is a welcome addition to his filmography. Sandler's love for the NBA lives out loud in this film and — from the film's lead to the extras — the leagues fit in seamlessly with a wide range of actors. The film isn’t perfect, but it is genuine when the time calls for it. Hustle is a part of the new era of sports movies that aren’t about playing the game, but the machinations around it. Director Jeremiah Zagar’s (We The Animals) touch is just right for this sort of film that could have easily been mishandled by a different filmmaker. Not every dramatic turn is lucky enough to be Uncut Gems, and yet The Ridiculous 6 didn’t exactly evoke shades of Happy Gilmore. But in this era of his career, it's good to know Sandler can still deliver a solid dramedy.
When a big career change comes down on Philadelphia 76ers scout, Stan Sugarman (Sandler) is forced to stop feeling sorry for himself and go out and find the next big thing. He finds that in construction worker Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangomez) in the basketball courts of Spain. Bo hustles and takes money from unsuspecting ballers, but he also shows Stan that he has what it takes to play in the big leagues. Stan foots the bill and secretly tries to get Bo into the NBA draft, but is met with a world of opposition. Both Bo and Stan must reckon with their past selves to become the NBA figures they aspire to be.
Related: Is Netflix's Hustle A True Story?
The collection of Sandler's dramatic performances seems to grow every four or five years. At this point, the Saturday Night Live alum has at least tamed critics of his more serious work. Surprisingly, Hustle is not
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