Lainie Kazan admires the work of Adam Sandler, a commando who becomes a hairdresser. (Courtesy photo)

By Bob Polunsky
Guest Columnist

“You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” is an Adam Sandler film so it covers all the bases from lewd and lascivious to satirical and sarcastic.

Sandler’s humor has a definite audience, but it doesn’t include everybody, and those offended by his humor will probably be quite vocal about it.   At the same time, those used to his sarcastic wit will laugh it off. The plot is so far-fetched that it’s difficult to take seriously anyway.

Zohan (Sandler) is a commando who wants a different kind of life. He really would be happier as a hairdresser, but no one will believe him in that occupation since he’s carved a reputation out of his military prowess and patented style of bullying people.

He figures the best way to change professions is to fake his own death. That way he can start from scratch.

Of course, once he changes his way of life, he becomes a typical Adam Sandler character. That is, he insults everyone and doesn’t play favorites. No one is immune to his insults and he isn’t above poking fun at Arabs, Jews and everyone in-between – so be prepared to see one ethnic put-down after another.
Since Sandler (as Zohan) laughs the loudest, the sarcasm is automatically in perspective with the racial tension in the Middle East today.

The film’s message of laughter at everyone’s expense is one way to avoid criticism, but it won’t do so completely. Tensions and animosity in the Middle East is at an all-time high, so offensiveness can’t be avoided.

Sandler adds fuel to the fire by using his familiar cast of oddball characters in prominent – but brief – roles. Rob Schneider makes his usual cameo appearance. John Turturro appears as “the Phantom.” Old-time comediennes Lainie Kazan and Charlotte Rae have functional roles and Mariah Carey appears as herself.

Just about everyone has a sex scene of one kind or another, and those scenes are in typical bad taste, but that’s par for the course for an Adam Sandler film. If you don’t like such scenes, you probably know enough to avoid his movies. 

Sandler’s Zohan character has a nude scene with his back to the camera. His sex life isn’t overlooked either, with one especially gross scene between him and some old women in his hair salon.

Adam Sandler deserves credit for going all out for his “art,” and his sense of comedy hasn’t failed him yet. Regardless of reviews, his movies make money, and “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” will probably make a bundle. Sandler’s audiences already know what to expect. They aren’t likely to be shocked nor prompted to complain.

It’s safe to say that the Middle East won’t be the same after moviegoers “mess with the Zohan.” They know the movie isn’t likely to lead to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but if it generates laughs from both sides, it’s accomplished more than any other movie has in that troubled area. Both Moses and Mohammed are out of earshot today. If they could watch and listen to the Zohan, they would probably grin from ear to ear.

Studio rating: PG-13 for nudity, sexuality and gross-out humor
Bob says: “It’s different enough to alienate, astound and even entertain moviegoers”
2 1/2 Stars