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The Hebrew Hammer (2003) 6.3
Ratings:
6.3/10 from 3,978 users
Metascore: 41/100
Reviews: 52 user | 35 critic | 13 from Metacritic.com An orthodox Jewish blaxploitation hero saves Hanukkah from the clutches of Santa Claus' evil son. Director:Jonathan KesselmanWriter:Jonathan Kesselman |
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Title: The Hebrew Hammer (2003)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Adam Goldberg | ... | ||
| Judy Greer | ... | ||
| Andy Dick | ... | ||
| Mario Van Peebles | ... | ||
| Peter Coyote | ... | ||
| Nora Dunn | ... | ||
| Sean Whalen | ... | ||
| Tony Cox | ... | ||
| Richard Riehle | ... | ||
| Melvin Van Peebles | ... | ||
| Rachel Dratch | ... | ||
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Harrison Chad | ... | |
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Jim Petersmith | ... | |
| Annie McEnroe | ... | ||
| Grant Rosenmeyer | ... | ||
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Mordechai Jefferson Carver, aka the Hebrew Hammer, is an orthodox Jewish stud who goes on a mission to save Hanukkah. When Santa Claus's evil son Damian is pushed over the edge by his father's liberal policies, he does away with the Christian patriarch. Subsequently stepping into his father's role, Damian launches a campaign to eradicate the Jewish Holiday. The Hammer joins forces with Esther Bloomenbergensteinenthal, the gorgeous and dangerous daughter of the leader of the Jewish Justice League; and his brother-in-arms Mohammed Ali Paula Abdul Rahim, the head of the Kwanzaa Liberation Front, to topple Santa's evil progeny and to save Hanukkah for future generations of Jews. Written by Sujit R. Varma
Taglines:
He's Not Bad, He's Cha-baad. See more »Genres:
ComedyMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for language, some sexual references and drug use | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
25 March 2004 (Australia) See more »Also Known As:
Hammer o exolothreftis See more »Box Office
Budget:
$1,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$19,539 (USA) (19 December 2003)Gross:
$19,539 (USA) (19 December 2003)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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JJL Chief Bloomenbergensteinenthal: So you want me to mass produce "Yentl," "Fiddler on the Roof," and Chaim Potok's "The Chosen"?
Mordechai Jefferson Carver: Right.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The original script called for a cameo from US Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Con), but Lieberman turned it down, so the role went to former New York City mayor Ed Koch, who was recruited at the last minute by one of the producers. See more »Goofs
When the Jewish children are heard singing "Silent Night", their mouths are not in sync at all with the music See more »Quotes
Mordechai Jefferson Carver: [talking on the phone] I need you to get in contact with the Worldwide Jewish Media Conspiracy and mass-produce every holiday movie that has a Jewish protagonist who is depicted in a positive light.JJL Chief Bloomenbergensteinenthal: So you want me to mass produce "Yentl," "Fiddler on the Roof," and Chaim Potok's "The Chosen"?
Mordechai Jefferson Carver: Right.
See more »
The concept is good, the performances are good, but this film is too uneven to be great. Writer/director Jonathan Kesselman should've watched the much better blaxploitation parody "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka!" a few times and thought harder about *why* it's a good parody. Even then, that film, too, could have been improved.
When you do satire, you get the best results when you stick pretty closely to your target. The funniest moments in "The Hebrew Hammer" are those in which it really mirrors blaxploitation films. When it degenerates into really broad parody, lame social commentary, and random jokes about Jewish stereotypes, it goes downhill quickly.
That's too bad, because the principle cast really does do an excellent job. The villains are weaker than the heroes -- conceptually and by performance -- but I can't really blame the actors (much as I might be tempted to blame Andy Dick) because the villains are *too* over-the-top just as they're written.
Satire works as comedy because it keeps moving back and forth over the line of plausibility -- or, at least, the line of genre convention. "The Hebrew Hammer" has many good moments but, in the end, it strays too far, too often. There's about thirty minutes of really good material in there.