You Don't Mess with the Zohan
2008 · Directed by Dennis Dugan
Original language: English
- comedy
- action
The story
An Israeli counterterrorism soldier with a secretly fabulous ambition to become a Manhattan hairstylist. Zohan's desire runs so deep that he'll do anything -- including faking his own death and going head-to-head with an Arab cab driver -- to make his dreams come true.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated daylight and sun-washed Tel Aviv beaches give way to flat, fluorescent-lit Brooklyn salons and sunny, cluttered New York streets, all shot in a glossy, high-key digital look with busy, mid-range framing that keeps the eye moving across crowded frames. The palette is candy-bright, with pastel salon interiors, sweaty summer orange, and loud primary colours in the set dressing, and the score is upbeat pop and synth-pop with bouncy disco-leaning cues. Its vibe is brash, sun-drenched and cheerfully silly, the kind of thing to put on for a lazy afternoon, a group watch, or a bit of weekend background noise. Pacing is brisk and sketch-like, with one gag after another and a rhythm built on physical comedy and broad reactions. Tone is goofy and warm, its emotional arc following a flamboyant, stubborn man learning to accept himself and trust the people around him. Intensity is low to moderate: there are action-movie fight scenes and mock-violent slapstick, but nothing graphic or gory; mild crude humour and some sexual innuendo run throughout. For people who want big-hearted, rude, sunny comedy with a mischievous streak and a light touch on politics.
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