You Don't Mess With the Zohan

Over the years Adam Sandler has entertained us with simple slap stick, in your face, slightly crass humor. He has taken risks with his outrageously portrayed characters providing us with many laughs. His most recent work pushes the "crass meter" to where it borders on slightly obnoxious and the humor meter is way, way low for this flick.

His latest release is probably his most outrageous character to date. Zohan is an over achiever in the Israel military who is obsessed with hair styling and his 1980s Paul Mitchell design book. He dreams of the day when he can just wash, dry and make the world "silky smooth", and not fight in a 1000 year old war.

Once you have seen an Adam Sandler film you know that he is loyal to his friends and they to him. You will see many of the same actors in several of his films; for example Rob Schneider and John Turturro. Because of the familiarity of the actors they often are able to provide fantastic movie chemistry on the screen. Unfortunately, this is not the case for this movie and it falls very short of Sandler greatest work (my humble opinion - Mr. Deeds and Big Daddy win that honor).

The plot is choppy, crumpled and convoluted. There are times when you are not sure who's who and what's what, and how the scene you are watching actually fits into the plot. I think Mr. Sandler took on a very complex subject for the basis of his film (Israeli Palestinian War) and was not really able to create a pervasive story that was entertaining.

I understand that Mr. Sandler may have taken on this project in order to demonstrate how horribly wrong both countries have been over the past few thousand years for their continued war on each other - I just wish he would have done so in a little more succinct fashion.

There are some sporadic moments of humor but they are few and far between and $9 is way to much to pay for just a few laughs. Is this a full price movie - in my opinion NOT! Wait for it to be on the Saturday afternoon cable movie, and then TIVO it and watch when you have nothing else left to do.

Side Note: So "they" have said, Mr. Sandler trained with Navy Seals, in order to obtain a little more military style body. Bravo Adam, your triceps are yummy and buttocks firm!