‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan’ is a New Low for Sandler
-----‘Zohan’ looked funny in the trailer. A goofy and ridiculous spoof where Sandler showed his versatility as a comedian after playing some more sobering roles recently in films like ‘Click,’ and even ‘Spanglish.’ Unfortunately, instead of clever humor we got 999 close ups of Sandler’s unmentionables.
-----The Zohan (Adam Sandler) is an Israeli super soldier who is easily the greatest warrior in his whole nation. However, his true dream lies in traveling to America to become a Hair Stylist. So, naturally he fakes his death and travels to America. What does he do in America? To be quite frank, lots of old women. Working part time at a Barber Shop in New York City, the Zohan cuts old women’s hair and then takes them in the back of the shop for a little fornication. Sound sick? Join the club of us who were disgusted at this cheap attempt at humor far below Sandler’s capabilities. And what better to compliment Sandler in screwing old women than about 2,376-odd jokes about his oft mentioned reproductive muscle. Indeed, the plot is hardly worth mentioning as the Zohan is discovered by Palestinian rival ‘The Phantom’ (John Turturro). At this point I’d like to say, ‘humor ensues,’ but that would be lying.
-----Sandler, as mentioned above stoops to a new low in a role far beneath his talent and comedic abilities. His character could have been funny and entertaining but instead relied on gross out gags and pervasive comedy to alienate the audience. Rob Schneider, John Turturro, the gang’s all here playing along with the sickness. The usual charm of the Sandler team can’t save this mess.
-----The plot is everywhere, especially in the very convoluted third act where things happen at random and the audience is further alienated. How this film didn’t receive an R-rating is beyond me. This film will upset many a child’s mom who went to see a light Sandler spoof, but were instead fed frequent Sandler nudity. In defense of ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,’ there was a single redeemable trait of the film in the form of the occasional clever joke that the film should have focused on providing more of.
-----Sandler should be embarrassed to be in a film so far removed form his wily comedic talent. Stay away form this movie unless you’re into two hours of penis jokes and half naked Sandler throughout the run time. It’s not worth the occasional laugh to be subject to such bad mental images and terrible storytelling. Go see ‘Kung Fu Panda’ instead!
