“Zohan,” with Adam Sandler proves to be one of the best comedies in recent years after fans’ disappointment in Sandler’s tries at dramatic roles. The absurd plot and random humor will have audiences laughing for days to come.
Adam Sandler movies tend to either be on target or a shot in the dark. “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” is more on the mark than a Mossad sharpshooter.
We laughed so much that our faces and stomachs hurt.
The plot the triumvirate of Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel, and Judd Apatow produced is rather absurd.
Zohan Dvir (Sandler), a stellar member of the Israeli Defense Forces, is sent to capture Phantom (John Turturro), a famous terrorist.
Zohan fakes his death so he can move to New York and style hair.
In his quest to make hair “silky smooth,” Zohan “makes sticky” with many a “biddy” before falling in love with a Palestinian hair dresser named Dalia (Emmanuelle Chriqui).
The Israeli-Palestinian block in Manhattan is in turmoil as Walbridge (played by Michael Buffer, aka the “Let’s get ready to rumble!” guy) hires hicks to gentrify the area.
They want to clear out the neighborhood to build a mall with a roller coaster on top.
Sandler’s alliance with longtime buddy director Dennis Dugan (“Big Daddy” and “Happy Gilmore”) brings an extra spark to the host of great comedic writers.
These two have teamed up for a lot of laughs over the years, and “Zohan” shows they still have what it takes.
After a stint with poor comedies like “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry” and “Click,” and mediocre dramas like “Reign Over Me” and “Punch Drunk Love,” Sandler takes on a crazy character in the same vein as Bobby Boucher and Happy Gilmore.
The result: “Zohan” is easily the funniest movie since “Anchorman” and Sandler’s best since “Big Daddy.”
In “Zohan,” Sandler reminds of us why we fell in love with him in the first place.
“Zohan” is offensive, brash and often crosses the line with cliché Apatow sex jokes, but the screwball humor is in true Adam Sandler fashion.
With help from old Sandler buddies Rob Schneider, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Kevin Nealon, John Turturro, John McEnroe and a slew of cameos, “Zohan” can do no wrong.
Possibly the best character in the movie is the wild, redneck who threatens to kill puppies.
Who else would play this role but Dave Matthews?
His character is the complete antithesis of his real life, but Dave pulls it off. His on screen antics generated many laughs in the theater.
Schneider, a Sandler staple, makes his appearance as a goat-loving, cab-driving, inept wannabe terrorist.
Fans of previous dumb Sandler movies will likely get a kick out of this.
It has left us laughing for days. The best part about dumb movies like this is that most of the humor is completely random and in no way related to the story.
Many times you will wonder why in the world something just took place.
Then, you laugh at not just the joke but also how preposterous it was.
If you like ridiculous situations, perverted jokes and hummus, then “Zohan” is definitely for you.
Some running gags in the movie will not be easily understood unless you have a working knowledge of Yiddish and Israeli culture.
For example, Zohan exhibits the crazy dress and of love of disco that is true of many Israelis.
The drink featured throughout the movie (Fizzy Bubbeleh) is not real, but is very similar to the crazy snacks found on the street corners of Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem.
Bubbeleh is a Yiddish term of endearment. Also, be prepared for the characters’ thick Israeli accents.
Despite being childish at times, the film handles the Israeli-Arab conflict in a progressive manner that culminates in a heart-warming ending.
The soundtrack is incredible for a comedy.
We are disappointed that Sony Pictures did not release the soundtrack.
Most of the songs can be individually purchased on iTunes.
It is an eclectic mix featuring original music by Rupert Gregson-Williams, the Israeli band Hadag Nachash, Mariah Carey, Ace of Base, M.I.A. and the famous Israeli transvestite, Dana International.
We haven’t enjoyed ourselves this much at a movie in years.
It was a riot throughout and completely devoid of that horrible lull present in so many of today’s comedies.
Not five minutes passed without us rolling around on the theater floor laughing until we cried.
“Zohan” is without a doubt the best comedy of the summer.
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I honestly could not be more disappointed in a review.
The funniest movie since Anchorman? Are you kidding? Have you seen 40-Year-Old Virgin? “Zohan” is not one of the top 50 funniest movies since “Anchorman.”
How is anyone supposed trust the judgment of the features page if the reviews are this far off from reality?
“Zohan” is quite possibly one of the least funny comedies of all time. I was dragged to the movie by my family, and the 2-hour bad joke ensemble was almost unbearable.
Have you ever heard of the comedy rule of 3? Apparently neither have the people that wrote this movie. They use the hummus and massive bush joke somewhere in the neighborhood of 67 times (rarely with any purpose).
If you are kind of dumb and think it is funny to watch Adam Sandler seduce and hump old ladies (that actually sounds way funnier than it is), then you might enjoy this movie. Otherwise, just save your money until “Pineapple Express” comes out in August. Then you can watch the best comedy of the summer.
Unforgivable.
Are you on crack?!
No?!
Personally I thought Kung-Fu Panda was a lot better. I’ve not laughed that hard in a long time.