You Don't Mess With The Zohan
June 7, 2008 at 11:34 a.m.
There are three things that can truly kill a movie: an overdose of celebrity cameos, a thinly-veiled political allegory and Rob Schneider.
Unfortunately, You Don’t Mess With the Zohan has all three. Aside from the perpetually irritating Schneider (an especially awful caricature of an Arab cab driver), the film uses these to its advantage…sort of. The film attempts to shine a humorous light on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The results vary from preachy to overdrawn and mildly offensive to, at rare intervals, good-natured and fun.
Zohan (Adam Sandler) is an Israeli counter-terrorist who fakes his own death to get away from the conflict and moves to New York City to follow his dream: to become a hairstylist. Hilarity ensues (or is supposed to) as he wins success by seducing his clients, fights to keep his identity secret and courts salon owner Dalia (Emmanuelle Chriqui, Entourage).
Sandler, sporting jean shorts and an epic array of codpieces, brings his usual ridiculousness to the title role. While he tries to make the film about him, the supporting performances are worth taking notice. Nick Swardson (Reno 911!) is wonderfully awkward as Zohan’s American roommate, and Lainie Kazan (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) is hilarious as his mother. The celebrity cameos (Mariah Carey and George Takei) are hit-or-miss overall, but Kevin Nealon’s turn as a nervous neighborhood watch volunteer is a highlight.
The writing, despite its Hollywood credentials (Sandler and comedy juggernauts Robert Smigel and Judd Apatow) is fairly witty at times, but ultimately fails to save the film’s far-fetched premise. As a social commentary, the film lacks focus due to a sidebar about how gentrification ruins the cultural fabric of urban America.
On the Sandler spectrum, Zohan is a step above Mr. Deeds and a step below Big Daddy. There are a few funny, even poignant moments: A temporary peace is forged between Israeli and Palestinian men who find common ground in their desire to get intimate with Laura Bush.
VV - Wait for the DVD
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