This June, ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,’ is planned for release. The movie is about a top Israeli Mossad agent who fakes his death in order to become a hair stylist. He grows tired of the “fighting” (or killing, he should say), which his mother says in the preview, “has only been going on for 2,000 years.”
From it’s trailer, it looks part-Borat, part-Bruno, part-Munich, and part-Sandler.
Right… it looks like another made-for-dumb-Americans movie.
Maybe it won’t be as dumb as it looks?
The 2,000 years quip is very annoying. Interestingly, the most significant thing in that region about 2,000 years ago was Jesus was 8 and Palestina was occupied by the Romans, and the Jews then resisted. I’m not sure I see the connection, other than now the Palestinians are fighting an Israeli occupation. 2,000 is just a big number that seems to imply ancient origins.
Anyways, the film is sure, at least, to piss off many Zionuts. They may take offense to the portrayal of the Mossad as anything other than a brave, righteous service. The movie will probably balance it out by making Palinuts like me pissed. The best we could hope for is to rile up some of the pro-Israeli-types.
On a positive note, unlike many Hollywood movies portraying Arabs, this one actually has several Arab actors, such as Mousa Kraish and Sayed Badreya as well as the comedienne Maysoon Zayid, who makes an appearance (thanks for tossing us the bone and forcing me to go see it now). The lead actress is Emmanuelle Chriqui, who is of Moroccan-Jewish descent (yes, that is Arab, too). I know you were not wondering, but Adam Sandler is not an Arab in any way shape or form.
I am a bit concerned about some of the minor characters. Just because I have an eye for details, I noticed the film cast several non-Arabs for the three “Angry Palestinian” roles. There are also three “Arab Boy” and two “Arab Girl” roles. Though most the major parts are for Israelis, the random ones include “Israeli Fan” and “Israeli Dancer.” It seems the writers could not picture an angry Israeli. Palestinians have got that on lock.
The “Angry Palestinian” bits are played by a WASP, an Italian-American and an Indian-American.
KABOBfest is offering to review the scenes with the angry Palestinians.
We, as a blog made up of more than a few angry Palestinians, feel that we could really offer some useful feedback about what an authentically angry Palestinian is like — frothy, irrational, and belligerent for no reason whatsoever because Palestinians have no reason to be angry. That whole dispossession of more than half of them in 1948 to make way for Israel… just a minor inconvenience. And the Israeli presence in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, just kind of a nice 40 year-long courtesy call. And they should be thanking Israel for bringing them some really friendly neighbors in those picturesque settlements that really beautify the landscape. Of course, they were so kind as to just clear out all those unsightly, useless olive trees… those giant weeds.
We’d do that for free even.
Though our offer is unlikely to be take up, we thought it might be important to reach out and build bridges to Hollywood… especially so later when we bash the film, we can do it in a particularly bitter, vindictive way.
I know it seems like an innocent, shameless comedy. Taking it too serious runs the risk of squeezing the humor out of it — if there is any. I hope there is a sliver of decent representation, and some critique of Israel. I hope.
Related posts:
- Israeli Apartheid Week
- Israeli Ethnic Cleanser Welcomed at US Think-Tank
- Moral Value of the Israeli Army
- The Myth of Israeli “Response”
- Where the Israeli Baseball League Can Find the Best Pitchers
Nope. I’ve seen multiple previews, this is just another shameless movie. The arabs involved should be ashamed of themselves.
Posted by Mr. Friendly | March 9, 2008, 8:35 ami agree with ed i have seen the previews and its just bad….for example the Arabs find out he is in the us and call “hezbollah hotline” for weapons ….arabs that take part in films that degrade their people more are idiots
Posted by CT | March 9, 2008, 9:28 amThanks guys, but do we need to see the film first to judge it? Or is it so fatalistically formulaic that we should not bother.
Posted by Will | March 9, 2008, 10:04 amThis is what society has come down to now–cheap humor and the proliferation and fostering of stereotypes is commonplace and well-liked. This is how people choose to get their dose of entertainment. I just wish there were more movies made that could counteract these inane assumptions and stereotypes.
Posted by dreamessence. | March 9, 2008, 10:05 amI think its telling that you can name only three arabs in the cast, and surprise they all play taxi driving terrorists. All the angry palestinians are as you stated: white.
If you look at the past parts some of these actors have had, there is a theme. They play terrorists or arab stereotypes. They only serve to set back our society even further. When will we have an arab character in the media who has good qualities? I mean I watch LOST and the arab iraqi is played by a British born Indian. And of course the character served under Saddam and tortured innocent civilians.
We either have arabs playing parts that would make their mothers ashamed or we have arabs who don’t play arabs (tony shalhoub you bastard). With all this we end up with Rob Schneider playing an arab. You don’t see Black actors portraying uncle toms, and you don’t see jewish actors playing stereotypical roles so why must arabs and arab-americans act in such a self deprecating manner?
/end rant
Posted by Mr. Friendly | March 9, 2008, 11:43 amPalestina was occupied by Romans? Who were the natives then, pray tell.
Will’s amorous relationship with the word ‘occupation’ nonwithstanding, is it so wrong for an Arab to be played by a non-arab? If an Arab was playing an Italian in a movie, wouldn’t that be kinda cool? Wouldn’t that be touted on this blog as a step forward?
Posted by Anonymous | March 9, 2008, 12:01 pmArabs are under-represented as members of society. It would be a step forward if any Arabs were cast to play anything other than terrorists.
It is not wrong for non-arabs to play arab characters, it is wrong for there to be a heavily anti-arab bias in films considering how limited a view it offers society. Many races had to deal with type of bigotry, try watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Look at how Japanese Americans were represented, by todays standards its morally reprehensible.
Posted by Mr. Friendly | March 9, 2008, 3:23 pmAnswering anonymous prayers (12:01):
During the Roman period, the natives were defeated Canaanites, Hebrews, Arabic Nabateans, Jebusites and various unaffiliated tribes — the people whose descendants today include Palestinians, other Arabs and Israelis.
Posted by Team SAFE | March 9, 2008, 3:26 pmWhat makes you think Ryan Phillip Thomas is a WASP, Will? I’m a WASP, and I gotta say he looks pretty much… not. What are you basing that on? His name? Thomas is not an Anglo-Saxon name. In fact, most of the people named “Thomas” that I know of, are Lebanese Christians.
Posted by programmer craig | March 9, 2008, 3:56 pmPS-Isn’t kind of weird for an “Arab” named William to be judging people’s ethnicity by their name, dude?
Posted by programmer craig | March 9, 2008, 3:59 pmAre there a significant number of Arab actors out there (with talent) who are only offered terrorist roles? Would those same actors be offered other roles were it not for their Arab heritage?
Posted by Anonymous | March 9, 2008, 4:32 pmI wouldnt be too worried about his next flop, people are already saying it looks like a waste of time.
And lets be real now, this whole thing about Mossad being strong and shit, adam sandler can kiss my ass, if you put a Mossad and a Hezbollah in a room I can assure you the Hezbollah militant will snap ya legs off and withstand your bullets.
Posted by dopesexyfuck | March 9, 2008, 10:41 pmPC-
Good point about me judging by name. I thought Thomas was a waspy name, I do not know any Lebanese Christians with that name, but I will defer to your superior intel on that.
Either way, he is from Cleveland, OH where there are many angry Palestinians for him to learn from and emulate. I am sure he will play his role with conviction and accuracy.
Will
Posted by Will | March 10, 2008, 7:22 amHello,
This is Ryan Phillip Thomas. To explain confusion, I’m 100% Lebanese.
My father and mother are both Lebanese and yes I was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Moved to NYC, then to California.
Don’t ask how I randomly found this site but I thought it would be interesting to comment.
Posted by Ryan Phillip Thomas | March 25, 2008, 5:47 pmsorry been busy so i’m commenting a year later….we don’t all play taxi drivers I play a hairdresser so blahhhhhhh to you all
Love
Maysoon
Posted by Anonymous | March 12, 2009, 2:41 am