Movie review: "You don't mess with the Zohan"

By Stan Dyer

In this age of ongoing, endless war, shaky political relations worldwide, and continuing terrorist violence, it seems irreverent to turn all that into a comedy. Is someone supposed to laugh at this, or cry? I was confused at the beginning, but, after a while, I got it and the whole thing began to make sense. This movie is just a social documentary disguised as a fun film.

The Zohan is Israel's top, anti-terrorist commando, but he is not happy. He is tired of the war and tired of the fighting. He just does not want to do it anymore. Instead, he wants to pursue his dream to go to New York in that wonderful land of opportunity, America, to cut and style hair making it "silky smooth". He tells his strict, Jewish parents and they think he is "gay". They offer to set him up in New York with a job in an electronics store. Zohan declines and goes on one, last mission; to recapture the Palestinian terrorist known as "The Phantom".

Using incredible moves and talent that is so outrageous it is funny, the Zohan infiltrates The Phantom's hiding place alone and flushes him out into the streets. A wild chase ensues that ends up at the beach near an ocean and The Zohan fakes his own death so that he can secretly sneak away to pursue his dream in New York.

Once in New York, The Zohan, with no experience cutting hair, cannot find work. Instead, he takes a job working at a beauty parlor owned and managed by a Palestinian woman who has also come to America seeking her dream. He is paid nothing and only allowed to sweep floors while he learns what he can. Then, one day, he gets his chance. One of the stylists in the shop leaves for another job. Stuck with no one to take her place, Zohan gets the job and his first customer.

Although his technique is dated and his talent raw, Zohan pleases his customers and increases the shop's clientele by treating the "older" women with a kind of respect they have not experienced in years. Soon, women are lined up all around the block for a chance to have The Zohan, under the alias, "Scrappy Coco", do their hair. All is going well until an immigrant Palestinian cab driver recognizes The Zohan and plots to capture him. The Zohan is also falling in love with his Palestinian boss in an ill-fated romance just as corporate America, as represented by "Wallbridge", is trying to push out the small shop owners and create a super mall where their shops once existed.

Wallbridge schedules a hacky sack competition called, "Hacky Sack Mania", and, while all the Israelis and Palestinians are at the competition, sends Skinheads to vandalize the neighborhood and incited violence between the two ethnic groups.

The Phantom comes to take part in the competition and to destroy The Zohan, but, when violence is reported in the neighborhood, both return to help quell the violence. Together, they put out a fire in a Palestinian store and discover they can work together. They also discover that The Zohan's love interest, Dalia, is also The Phantom's sister. Together, The Phantom and The Zohan destroy the Skinheads, save the neighborhood and discover that even Palestinians and Israelis can live together in peace. In the end, The Zohan and Dalia hook up, open a new, bigger hair shop and receive the blessing of the Zohan's parents.

It would be easy to simply watch this movie, laugh at all the innuendo, ethnic references, and silliness, but that would be missing the point. The movie is actually trying to convey the message that war, violence and hate are the real silliness. No matter whom we are, what we believe, or where we are from, we have to learn to get along and it can be done. Even in a country as diverse as the United States of America, we do a good job of getting along. Oh, it's never perfect, but experts thought this nation would implode in on itself 200 years ago, and, yet, here we are. Also, when we think about different people, immigration, and fear, all of us or our families were, at one time, different people who immigrated here and learned about fear.

I'm going out on a limb here, but I like this movie. I give it an "A". Sure, some people will not see the message I see and to many it will be just another, silly movie like so many others, but I like the message. I especially like the message of unity in this, an election year. As for the movie, I love the way Adam Sandler creates so many "cameo" appearances in his movies and gives work to some who have not worked in years like Henry Winkler, Charlotte Rae, and Shelley Berman. It's fun to say, "Hey, that's John McEnroe" and watch Sandler's movie poke fun at even him. Sandler even gives Mariah Carey a semi-starring role in a subplot, and, considering her movie history, that almost qualifies him for sainthood. Yes, there is a message to this movie, and it runs deep if you take the time to look.

Title: You don't mess with the Zohan

Director: Dennis Dugan

Genre: Comedy, Run Time: One Hour, 53 minutes, Rating: PG-13

Cast: Adam Sandler as Zohan, John Turturro as The Phantom, Rob Schneider as Salim and Emmanulle Chriqui as Dalia. Also look for cameos, (in addition to the ones mentioned above) from Chris Rock, Kevin Nealon, Kevin James, George Takei, Bruce Villanch, Henry Winkler and others.