Whether it's because he has reached a saturation point with goofy comedies, or because he's too old to lead a romantic comedy, in the past few years, Adam Sandler has turned to more mature, dramatic roles. If you've seen his ventures into indie films like Punch-Drunk Love (2002), The Meyerowitz Stories (2017) or more recently Uncut Gems (2019), you'll notice that Sandler has a dramatic side to him that's surprisingly impressive. Now Sandler's back with another dramatic turn in Hustle, a Netflix sports drama where he plays a basketball scout looking for the next great player. Hustle feels like Jerry Maguire meets Rocky. It is a heartfelt, uplifting underdog movie that also serves as a love letter to the NBA.
In Hustle, Sandler plays Stanley Sugerman, a basketball scout for the Philadelphia 76ers. He's relatively successful at what he does, but the constant travelling takes a toll on him especially since it keeps him from his family. Stanley has a noble goal in wanting to become the next coach for the 76ers. While stuck on the road looking for the next unknown talent, his search leads to Spain where he discovers Bo Cruz (Juancho Hernangómez), an incredibly talented street ballplayer with a troubled past. Stanley and Bo connect on and off the court with their passion for the game and as loving family men who want to prove they can win in basketball and in life.
