You Don't Mess With the Zohan (PG-13)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing You Don't Mess with the Zohan
, the latest Adam Sandler flick. In this movie Zohan tires of the constant fighting with the terrorists and comes to the United States to pursue his dream of becoming a hair stylist.
What did you think Mike?
Mike: I think this movie should be called Don't Bother with the Zohan. This movie is dumb, although I did laugh a couple of times. This is not Sandler's best work by a long shot.
What did you think?
Scott: This is so different from all of his movies; in this movie he has an accent.
Yup, that's about the only difference in this movie than the rest. Sandler is starting to concentrate on a particular formula and the recipe is getting old. It’s time for something new.
Mike: Like many others, I thought this movie would be pretty funny because of the previews. This is definitely a case where ALL the funny bits are in the trailer.
Scott: The trailer was even funnier than the movie. Several lines from the trailer fell flat on the audience-they were only funny when taken out of context. The audience did laugh though, I'll give the movie credit, but it wasn't me laughing. They took what should have been an SNL skit and made it into a movie. The repetition of the jokes on the screen really got old quick.
Mike: I'm not particularly politically correct when it comes to things, but this movie is often offensive without actually being funny.
I can't get enough hummus jokes.
Oh wait, yes I can!
Scott: They kept throwing that out there to see if it would stick. There are only so many ways that can be funny, and all were used in the first 5 minutes.
Mike: I want to say up front that I am a big Adam Sandler fan, so this is not a case of "not getting it". He has done so many funny movies like Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy and 50 First Dates, but this is just not up to par.
Scott: In that case, I guess I should say that I think his stuff is getting old. At least he didn't act like a baby in this one.
Mike: Thank God he wasn’t a water boy or a canteen boy either.
Scott: No he was a Mossad agent boy.
Mike: This movie has good writers and a parade of interesting guest stars and its all wasted.
I love John Turturro and Rob Schneider, but neither one is all that funny here.
Scott: It was written to fit an idea; they didn't expand on the idea or get creative with it. They had their punch lines first and wrote a movie around them.
Mike: The idea of a Massad agent faking his death so that he can become a hairdresser in the U.S. is ridiculous. But that’s not the worst of it. Him being superhuman as an agent is funny for about 5 minutes.
Scott: Then you get it and wish for them to move on and they don't.
Mike: Also, the bulge in the front of his pants might be funny for about 2 minutes.
Scott: Like I said, it was good for an SNL skit.
Mike: I will admit that a couple of pieces of casting are genius. Dave Matthews as a dangerous red neck-good one. Michael Buffer as a millionaire business tycoon-good one.
Scott: Matthews was good. I liked him too.
Buffer was wasted I thought. I don't know why, but I could never hear clearly what he was saying. His voice might be one of those that gets lost in the crowd. Hard to say that about an announcer, but when announcing he has the mike up to his mouth.
Mike: Yeah, but since he wasn’t playing an announcer, it actually took you telling me to realize who he was.
Scott: Emmanuelle Chriqui is Sandler's love interest Dalia. I am a big fan of Entourage and she caught my eye in that. I haven't seen her in a movie before this, but I look forward to more in the future.
Mike: I agree with you about Emmanuelle. I have become a big Entourage fan and she is a highlight of the movie. Not so much for her acting as much as fun to look at.
Scott: She didn't have much to say. This movie was actually the least romantic comedy- like out of most of Sandler's movies. That's too bad too cause I wanted more of her.
Mike: I'll bet you did...
Actually, I know exactly what you mean.
Charlotte Rae (Mrs. Garret from The Facts of Life) as one of Zohan's lonely older lady customers-another good one.
Scott: Rae's scene kind of freaked me out. Some things I don't want to see Mrs. Garrett doing, or think of her doing.
Mike: True, but it is an inspired piece of casting.
Scott: It's surprising that my favorite person in the movie is the unknown Daoud Heidami as Nasi, the paper stand wannabe killer. I really liked him.
Mike: As for director Dennis Dugan, keep this up and no more movies for you. He needs to go more Happy Gilmore in the future, not I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
Scott: He is a two-time Razzie nominee for worst director. Sandler is keeping a lot of people working that may not deserve it.
How do you rate this?
Mike: Overall I give this movie a 1.5 and a 2 for comedy, because I did laugh a few times despite myself. Unfortunately, I think it was all moments I had already seen before.
And you?
Scott: It's the same old Sandler and the same old jokes. I give it s 1.5 overall and a 1.5 for comedy.
Mike: Don't Mess with the Zohan. No really. Don't mess with this turkey of a film.
