On the Big Board |
| Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
| 21/31 |
John Seal |
Surprisingly funny 'why can't we all just get along?' comedy |
| 78/196 |
Max Braden |
There are a few giggles but for the most part it's dumb comedy. There's a decent undertone of |
After a side-trip into Serious Actorville and playing Somewhat Normal Guy In Family (or Gay Marriage) Comedy, Adam Sandler returns to wacky mode in this summer's biggest mouthful of a title, You Don't Mess with the Zohan.
Sandler is the title character, Zohan, an Israeli counter-terrorist who would really much rather be styling hair than, you know, shooting people. Faking his own death in order to escape, he makes his way to New York where he rapidly becomes the most popular stylist in the city. Unfortunately, this eventually attracts the attention of a few people (including John Turturro) from his past who would very much like him dead. Emmanuelle Chriqui (most recently seen in Entourage) plays the requisite Sandler love interest.
The usual Sandler regulars make their appearances here. It's directed by Dennis Dugan, who (among many other things) has also directed I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Big Daddy and Happy Gilmore for Sandler, and of course there's a Rob Schneider cameo. The script was penned by Sandler, SNL writer Robert Smigel and also by something called a Judd Apatow. Maybe you've heard of him.
You Don't Mess With the Zohan had a commercial at this year's Super Bowl, but it and the full trailer weren't exactly full of laughs (the "foot uppercut" bit is comedy gold, but that's about it). There's no questions on whether or not Sandler still has an audience. His Longest Yard remake earned a holiday inflated $47 million, 2006's Click opened to $40 million and last year's Chuck and Larry brought $34.2 million on opening weekend. While it still seems a bit dubious that Zohan would duplicate any of them, it's certainly not out of the question, especially with the Apatow touch. (Tim Briody/BOP)
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