In the 2008 satirical action comedy film 'You Don't Mess with the Zohan', Adam Sandler plays Zohan, an Israeli counter-terrorist commando who fakes his own death to pursue his dream of becoming a hairstylist in New York City. The film follows Zohan as he attempts to leave behind the conflict in Israel and start a new life, while also dealing with a crooked businessman, a superhuman terrorist arch-rival, and the grudge of a taxi driver. Despite mixed reviews, the film was a box office success, grossing $204.3 million worldwide.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Release date | 6 June 2008 |
Genre | Action comedy |
Director | Dennis Dugan |
Writers | Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel, Judd Apatow |
Producer | Jack Giarraputo |
Stars | Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nick Swardson, Lainie Kazan, Rob Schneider |
Plot | An Israeli commando fakes his death to pursue his dream of becoming a hairstylist in New York |
What You'll Learn
Zohan fakes his death
Zohan Dvir, an Israeli counter-terrorist commando, is tired of the endless conflict in his country. He dreams of leaving the military and becoming a hairstylist in the United States. To pursue this dream, Zohan resorts to an extreme measure: he fakes his own death.
Zohan's death is staged as the result of a fight with his long-time arch-rival, the Palestinian militant Fatoush "Phantom" Hakbarah. After engaging in combat, Zohan pretends to be defeated, allowing Phantom to gain fame across the Arab world. With his supposed death, Zohan smuggles himself to New York City, where he adopts the alias "Scrappy Coco".
In New York, Zohan immediately pursues his dream of becoming a hairstylist. He seeks a job at a local salon but is turned down due to his lack of experience. However, his passion and talent are undeniable, and he eventually finds an opportunity at a struggling salon owned by a Palestinian woman named Dalia.
Zohan's new life in New York is not without its challenges. He must keep his true identity a secret, and he encounters resistance from those who recognize him, including a Palestinian-American taxi driver named Salim. Despite these obstacles, Zohan persists in his quest to leave his past behind and embrace his new life as a hairstylist.
Zohan's fake death allows him to escape the expectations and constraints of his previous life. It is a drastic step that enables him to pursue his dream, find love, and ultimately find peace between Israelis and Palestinians in his new community.
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Zohan moves to New York
At the suggestion of a fellow Israeli immigrant, Oori, Zohan attempts to secure a job at the struggling salon of a Palestinian woman named Dalia. Dalia only allows Zohan to sweep the salon's floors without pay because her salon is facing financial difficulties. When a stylist unexpectedly quits, one of the customers asks Zohan to cut her hair, and he accepts. Zohan's reputation rapidly spreads, causing Dalia's business to prosper.
Zohan is identified by a Palestinian-American taxi driver, Salim, who recognises him and threatens to publicly disclose the truth about him being alive. Meanwhile, Zohan has fallen in love with Dalia, but she rejects him because of his military service. He decides to quit, hoping to keep her safe from any inter-ethnic strife.
Zohan eventually confronts his arch-rival, the Phantom, in a championship Hacky Sack game. However, the confrontation is cut short when he learns that the Middle Eastern neighbourhood is under attack by unknown assailants. As their businesses burn, Zohan calms the Israelis and Palestinians, who are blaming each other for the violence.
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Zohan becomes a hairstylist
Zohan Dvir is an Israeli counter-terrorist commando with a reputation for his promiscuity and superhuman traits. However, he dreams of leaving the military and becoming a hairstylist for John Paul Mitchell Systems in the United States. His parents disapprove of this ambition.
After engaging in a fight with his arch-rival, the Palestinian militant Fatoush "Phantom" Hakbarah, Zohan fakes his own death and smuggles himself to New York City. He immediately seeks a job at a local Paul Mitchell salon but is turned down. Zohan then witnesses a traffic collision and intervenes when one of the motorists starts bullying a cyclist and yelling anti-Arab slurs at Zohan. The cyclist, Michael, befriends Zohan and invites him to stay at his apartment.
Michael introduces Zohan to a fellow Israeli immigrant, Oori, who recognises Zohan and vows to keep his identity a secret. Oori suggests that Zohan secure a job at a struggling salon owned by a Palestinian woman named Dalia. Dalia only allows Zohan to sweep the salon's floors without pay due to financial difficulties. However, when a stylist unexpectedly quits, a customer asks Zohan to cut her hair, and he accepts.
Zohan's reputation as a hairstylist spreads, causing Dalia's business to prosper. His skills with a cut and curl make him a hit with Manhattan's women, and he becomes known for his ability to make people silky-smooth. Dalia falls in love with Zohan, but their relationship is complicated by her discovery of his military service and her own background as the sister of Zohan's arch-rival, Phantom.
Despite facing challenges and opposition, Zohan pursues his dream of becoming a hairstylist, using his unique skills and reputation to build a successful career in New York City.
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Zohan's superhuman traits
Zohan's abilities are demonstrated in several scenes throughout the film. In one instance, he is able to knock out a child with a Vulcan nerve pinch, a feat that leaves the other children in the salon in tears. In another scene, Zohan and his arch-nemesis, The Phantom, compete to prove who is better at not feeling pain. The Phantom attacks Zohan with an oar, which Zohan simply shrugs off. The Phantom then has a fish bite him on the neck, to which Zohan responds by sticking the same fish down his trousers.
Zohan's superhuman abilities also extend to his sexual prowess, as he is able to satisfy the older, heavier-set women he shows exceptional interest in. In addition, Zohan possesses a "gargle blaster" of a throat, able to down a bottle of the potent drink "Fizzy Bubbelech" in under a second.
The film's treatment of Zohan's powers is comedic and playful, with the Rule of Funny governing the impossible stunts and feats that Zohan performs.
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Zohan's love interests
In the 2008 satirical action comedy film 'You Don't Mess with the Zohan', Zohan Dvir, an Israeli counter-terrorist commando, fakes his own death and travels to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a hairstylist.
Zohan's primary love interest in the film is Dalia Hakbarah, a Palestinian woman who owns a struggling hair salon in Lower Manhattan. Dalia initially rejects Zohan's romantic advances due to his military service, but the two eventually fall in love and get married. Dalia is also revealed to be the sister of Zohan's arch-rival, Fatoush "Phantom" Hakbarah, a Palestinian militant.
In addition to Dalia, Zohan is shown to have romantic encounters with several other women throughout the film, including Gail Klayman, the mother of his friend Michael, and older female customers at his salon. Zohan's reputation for promiscuity is well-known, and he is portrayed as having a strong attraction to women.
Despite the romantic obstacles and ethnic tensions, Zohan and Dalia's relationship ultimately prevails, and they work together to rebuild their community and open a beauty salon.
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Frequently asked questions
Zohan Dvir, an Israeli counter-terrorist commando, fakes his own death and moves to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a hairstylist.
The film stars Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nick Swardson, Lainie Kazan, and Rob Schneider.
Dennis Dugan.
1 hour and 48 minutes.