You Don't Mess With the Zohan

Starring Adam Sandler. Rated PG 13

For a PG-13 movie there was plenty of sexual situations. Sandler appears naked several times with his privates strategically blocked from view. Sexual activity with older women is implied frequently and is played for laughs.

The Zohan is an Israeli counter-terrorist agent. He's exceptionally good at capturing terrorists. He has feet of fury, can tie people into a pretzel and can immobilize an opponent just by holding their pinky. He's also impervious to pain which he shows by placing a piranha down his speedo. However, the Zohan is tired of the constant fighting between the Israelis and Palestinians and hopes to make a new life for himself in America as a hair stylist. To achieve this goal, he goes off alone to fight a terrorist mastermind known as the Phantom (John Turturro). Zohan fakes his death and escapes to America in the cargo hold of a plane. He practices his hair styling technique using a Paul Mitchell book from the 80's. Getting a job with Paul Mitchell proves harder than expected and Zohan takes a job in a hair salon run by a Palestinian woman (Emmanuelle Chirqui). Zohan tries to keep his idenity a secret but he gets recognized and his past that he tried to leave behind catches up with him.

The Israeli-Palenstinian conflict is treated rather lightly. When the Zohan says that he wishes the fighting would stop his mother says, "they've been fighting for 2000 years, it's bound to stop soon." Actually, no it's not. The conflict will not end so long as Arabs hate Israelis more than they love their own children. It will not end so long as Arabs do not recognize the right for Israel to be an independent nation. It will not end when attacks and counterattacks occur on both sides. When victims are made martyrs and Israel is condemned as a Goliath oppressing the Palestinian David and people buy into the nonsense of "Zionism is racism" no end to the conflict is in sight. When the Arab world is not interested in peace despite concession after concession has been made by Israel, how can there be peace? The situation is dreadful for people on both sides who just want to get on with their lives.

The Zohan learns that several other people in the area where he works have also left Israel in hopes for a better life. But things in America are not much better. The street is divided into Arab and Israeli sides. When racist remarks are printed on some shops and others are vandalized both sides are quick to blame the other. Only by putting aside their differences can they come together to fight a common enemy.

Hacky sack and hummus go together like ice cream and hot sauce but in this movie, both are used quite often. Mariah Carey makes a brief appearance and does a decent job being funny. Unlike "Glitter" which bombed, this movie is supposed to be funny and Carey doesn't take herself too seriously. SNL alums Kevin Nealon and Rob Schneider make appearances. Hezbollah is made fun of. Ethnic jokes are made of Jews, Arabs and Southerners.

There are some funny moments. The action is rather goofy. The storyline is ok. Worth seeing once as a matinee or rental.