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Review: You don’t mess with the Zohan
This one could have been an outlandish, politically-incorrect spoof a la Borat. Unfortunately, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan is anything but that, writes Rashid Irani.
You Don’t Mess With The Zohan
Cast : Adam Sandler Emmanuelle Chriqui
Direction : Dennis Dugan
Rating : **
This one could have been an outlandish, politically-incorrect spoof a la Borat. Unfortunately, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan is anything but.
The script introduces us to a macho Israeli secret service agent (Sandler, of course) who dreams of becoming a hairstylist. And so he fakes his death, lands up in New York (where else?) and falls in love with his beautiful employer (Chriqui) who happens to be of Palestinian origin.
Believe it or not, the Arab-Israeli imbroglio is conveniently resolved --- at least on the streets of the Big Apple --- during the ludicrous finale. Supposedly, avaricious property developers are to be blamed for the conflict. If that isn’t facetious, what is? Plus, the gags frequently verge on the lewd and offensive.
On the positive side, Adam Sandler is as goofy as ever. John Turturro, as an over-the-top Middle Eastern terrorist, lacks credibility. Suggestion: avoidable unless you don’t have an alternative.
