THE HEBREW HAMMER is an amusing but uneven Yiddishe version of last year's UNDERCOVER BROTHER, only instead of "The Man" being out to homogenize Black Folk, it's Santa's satanic son out to destroy Chhhhhanukah. (With an emphasis on the CHHHHHH.) Like UNDERCOVER BROTHER, the film uses 1970s blaxploitation movies as its template, but here inserts Adam Goldberg in the Eddie Griffin role, replaces Chris Kattan with Andy Dick, and substitutes Judy Greer for Aunjanue Ellis. Diminuative Tony Cox is even on hand reprising his BAD SANTA role as a foul-mouthed elf.
The humor is, predictably, based on broad enthnic and cultural stereotypes that go back 50 years as well as AIRPLANE!-like movie parodies. (Like UNDERCOVER BROTHER, HEBREW HAMMER includes an undercover ethnic organization that requires visitors to prove their authenticity by engaging in a variety of stereotypical rituals and behaviors. In HAMMER, the final test involves whining.)
The production values are nil, the story choppy, but there are moments of sick brilliance. My big question is: How many people are going to actually understand the Hebrew/Yiddish expressions and references?
This is not a film for the goyim.
The humor is, predictably, based on broad enthnic and cultural stereotypes that go back 50 years as well as AIRPLANE!-like movie parodies. (Like UNDERCOVER BROTHER, HEBREW HAMMER includes an undercover ethnic organization that requires visitors to prove their authenticity by engaging in a variety of stereotypical rituals and behaviors. In HAMMER, the final test involves whining.)
The production values are nil, the story choppy, but there are moments of sick brilliance. My big question is: How many people are going to actually understand the Hebrew/Yiddish expressions and references?
This is not a film for the goyim.