You Don't Mess with the Zohan

My husband and I watched "You Don't Mess with the Zohan". Zohan, played by Adam Sandler, is an Israeli counter-terrorism army commando who, after growing tired of his Israeli post-draft's standing service, fakes his death so he can re-emerge in New York City as a hair stylist.

I'm a big fan of Adam Sandler, but You Don't Mess with the Zohan is my least favorite. Though, there are some scenes that are very funny, but also there are not-for-kids scenes.


I love Rob Schneider's character. Rob played as Salim, a taxi driver whose goat Zohan had stolen after he threw his shoe at Zohan and spit in his face. Salim convinces his friends to help him exact revenge on Zohan.

Though I did not quite like the movie, but I can say it is a brave movie, for the way Sandler uses throwaway humor in the service of a strong point of view. "Zohan" believes that violence is not the answer to anything. Violence may get temporary results, but generally makes bad situations worse. So if you dig deeper, this movie is not done for nothing, but there's some meaning behind this madness.

Directed by Dennis Dugan; written by Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel and Judd Apatow; director of photography, Michael Barrett; edited by Tom Costain; music by Rupert Gregson-Williams; production designer, Perry Andelin Blake; produced by Mr. Sandler and Jack Giarraputo; released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: 1 hour 53 minutes.

Cast

* Adam Sandler as Zohan "Scrappy Coco" Dvir
* Emmanuelle Chriqui as Dhalia Hakbarah
* John Turturro as Fatoush "Phantom" Hakbarah
* Nick Swardson as Michael
* Lainie Kazan as Gail
* Rob Schneider as Salim Husaamdiyaamaaazinqutaybamujaahiduaaajaaaeeeh
* Ido Mosseri as Uri
* Alec Mapa (a Filipino-American actor) as Claude
* Dave Matthews as James
* Michael Buffer as Walbridge
* Charlotte Rae as Mrs. Greenhouse
* Sayed Badreya as Hamdi
* Daoud Heidami as Nasi
* Robert Smigel as Yosi
* Dina Doron as Zohan's Mother
* Shelley Berman as Zohan's Father
* Chris Rock as Taxi Driver
* Henry Winkler as himself, riding in the limo driven by Zohan
* Kevin James as himself sitting at the Hacky Sack tournament
* Mariah Carey as herself
* John McEnroe as himself
* George Takei as himself
* Bruce Vilanch as himself
* John Paul DeJoria as Paul Mitchell (hairdresser)
* Kevin Farley board member uncredited
* Tom Arnold as himself – uncredited