Empire has always had a soft spot for Adam Sandler (we believe that most people who check out Happy Gilmore armed with low expectations develop a similar feeling), but we’re the first to admit that lately his run of comedies has been verging on the lazy, the indulgent and, crucially, the unfunny. We'll just list some of them for you now - The Longest Yard. Click. And the horror that was I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry.
Today, though, the trailer for Sandler’s latest film, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, went online up at Yahoo! Movies, and we’re glad to say that it looks like a return to form for the former SNL star, in that it made Empire laugh out loud several times. And, ten minutes after viewing it, we’re still chuckling away at one gag in particular.
In truth, we’ve harboured high hopes for this since it was announced, mainly because of the involvement of current comedy god, Judd Apatow, who co-wrote the script along with Sandler and Robert Smigel, inventor of Triumph The Insult Comic Dog.
Then there’s the premise, in which Sandler plays the world’s toughest Mossad agent, who quits his job and moves to New York, where he becomes a top hairdresser. Except, as is inevitable, his old life catches up with him.
And the trailer indicates that You Don’t Mess With The Zohan could well deliver on the promise of that promise, with Sandler doing his first full-on character (including an accent) since 2000’s Little Nicky (we’re not counting his roles in serious films since, before you start shouting about Punch-Drunk Love and Reign Over Me). It would be easy to start making Borat comparisons, but the Zohan seems much more tuned-in, less naïve and wilfully stupid than Sacha Baron Cohen’s fish out of water.
There are also a couple of moments of cracking physical comedy here, while Sandler fans may or may not be pleased to see Rob Schneider turning up as the film’s bad guy, a fellow assassin turned cab driver who tries to take the Zohan down. Chances are he’ll be shouting, “you can do it!” at Sandler before the movie’s end.
But don’t take our word for it – go check it out yourself here and then cross your fingers, just as Empire is doing, and pray that this is R-rated.