A truly hair-raising movie

You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Cast: Adam Sandler, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Ahmed Ahmed
Director: Dennis Dugan
Rating: **

Adam Sandler's latest, attempted laugh riot, Zohan, doesn't hit all the right notes. At best, it is a mild, tasteless and unremarkable attempt at comedy.

The film is an amalgam of skits threaded by a flimsy excuse for a story. Director, Dugan and star comedian, Sandler, have attempted to make this as deep as possible (for them), but the socio-political issues that the film takes pot-shots at, appear tasteless, and coupled with Sandler's routine antics, gives you very little reason to laugh.

The film begins quite sharply. Zohan (Sandler) is an Israeli secret agent, who has a secret desire to become a hairstylist. The conflict in the Middle East has become passé for him, and his alter-ego, just plain boring. After this it's all baloney.

The Phantom (John Turturro) comes to Zohan's aid, inadvertently, when a fierce battle ensues allowing Zohan to fake his own death. Zohan now assumes the role of  Coco (hairstylist extraordinaire) in New York, working for a Palestinian hairdresser, Dalia. Dalia and Coco eventually exhibit a tenderness for each other. The script also includes a sub-plot involving a realty tycoon and egomaniac. Neither the main story, nor the various sub-plots give you any reason to cheer.

Judd Apatow, Robert Smigel and Adam Sandler fashion a script that rarely, if ever, produces a genuine laughable moment. They lampoon Judaism and make provocative, and sexist remarks about potential first ladies.

But none of it can generate genuine laughter. Even cameos by stand-up comedians Ahmed Ahmed and Nick Swardson, and appearances by celebrities John McEnroe and Mariah Carey can do little to save this film from appearing lumpy and un-amusing.