Adam Sandler is back with the crew behind Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison in a modern comedy with a not-so vague attempt to mock/convey social politics that stem back over two thousand years. I think it’s done its job.

Sandler plays the Israeli national hero status Jewish anti-terrorist super soldier, Zohan (phew!) who grows tired of the endless war with the Palestinians and fakes his death to escape to America in pursuit of his secret passion, styling hair. When he gets to the new world, he finds that acquiring a job as a hairstylist (basing his styles on an early 80s Paul Mitchell catalog) is not materializing as easily as he originally conceived.  Not only is he completely inexperienced in cutting hair, Zohan is no longer a famous hero and has to contend with some racial stereotyping in a new land.

I don’t know if political science and comedy formulate the best premise for a film. For me, “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan”  did its job of keeping my attention by both kinda disgusting me and making me laugh for an hour and half. Otherwise it’s fairly forgettable and I wouldn’t put any energy towards viewing it in the future.
[rd] - 6.7.2008