You Don’t Mess With The Zohan

An undeniable improvement over I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan nevertheless comes off as the latest in a long line of underwhelming Adam Sandler comedies – with the film’s absurdly padded-out running time proving instrumental in its transformation from amiable time-killer to oppressive disaster. The movie casts Sandler as Zohan Dvir, a legendary Israeli Special Forces soldier who fakes his own death in order to pursue a career as a New York-based hairstylist. There’s little doubt that Sandler deserves some credit for stepping slightly outside of his comfort zone, as You Don’t Mess With The Zohan has been infused with an over-the-top, Stephen Chowesque sensibility that’s certainly a far cry from the comparatively sedate nature of his previous efforts. It’s subsequently worth noting that the film initially sustains one’s interest with its broadly-played action scenes and unapologetically silly interludes, with Sandler’s expectedly charming work holding the proceedings together even through its less-than-successful comedic segues. Yet there inevitably reaches a point at which the relentlessly off-the-wall atmosphere starts to wear the viewer down, as director Dennis Dugan places an increasing emphasis on sequences that are either too long or flat-out needless. Saddled with an admittedly one-note premise, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan is clearly the sort of effort that should’ve topped out at 80 minutes – which does ensure that the almost two-hour running time eventually becomes overwhelming and overbearing. And while screenwriters Robert Smigel, Judd Apatow, and Sandler do a surprisingly nice job of offering up an even-handed portrayal of the film’s Israeli and Arab characters, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan ultimately belongs within the ever-growing cadre of Adam Sandler misfires.

** out of ****