I feel pretty late to the party on this one… but finally gave Hustle on Netflix the ol’ college try. And it wasn’t a burden or a chore afterall. Even as a devoted anti-fan of sportsball, I really enjoyed it. Even if there was, at any given moment, a 50% chance that 50% of the on-screen talent was an actual NBA star that I simply didn’t recognize.

The flick worked so well for multiple reasons but I’ll lead that with Adam Sandler. I’ve never been accused of being an Adam Sandler fan given how little regard I have for his comedy chops (except, perhaps, Opera Man on SNL). But when he plays serious, it’s nothing but net (see? I know a lingo or two). And he brings it here… but not by playing a goofball or a long-suffering, angst-ridden dude who is five seconds away from certain doom. Just a hard-working guy, a good husband and good rep for his players and his sport. No need to dig into the dark night of the soul…

But the flick also works because it’s a good sports movie that tells a variation on the usual sports story. Sure, it’s about striving to achieve one’s dreams, but it isn’t about the Big Game, winning the championship, or even just coming in second. It’s the story of one guy just trying to prove himself good enough for the NBA. It’s a smaller-scale, more personal story that might just put the I in team.

The flick also has marvelous editing with smartly energetic training montages and basketball sequences. Right down to the squeeker sneakers. This is a very well produced film.

So yeah, I really enjoyed this Adam Sandler/basketball flick… even if I spent the closing credits wondering who so-and-so b-ball player was playing himself (and then, hey, it’s Shaq… that’s a name I can dredge up from the rotten cellar of my memory). Sandler proves once again that, if people would only give him a chance, we could all move beyond Hubie Halloween.

Score: 87