Plot: What’s it about?
Now this was a surprise. Not having heard of “The Hebrew Hammer”, either as a Comedy Central flick or a standard straight-to-DVD comedy, I was stunned and pleased to find that I found this film as funny as I did. I must point out that I feel this film would play even better amongst those more familiar with Jewish tradition (or perhaps merely with stereotype) than I, but my level of enjoyment despite this handicap, to me, speaks volumes. Adam Goldberg is perfectly cast as Mordechai, the agent / spy / hero / blunderer in the mould of “Austin Powers” and “Undercover Brother”. More so than perhaps either of those films, however, “The Hebrew Hammer” is never sheepish about what it tries to do and to what lengths it will take its audience to do it. To be sure, this is not a perfect film by any means. Many of the jokes go on a few beats beyond amusement, and some of the scenes as a whole (namely those involving Mordechai’s mother) are simply not as funny as the rest of the film, momentarily taking us out of the experience. For all its faults, however, this movie is quite a pleasant surprise and takes the satire to a fresh and deceptively intelligent arena. Well, okay, maybe that’s taking things a bit far, but let’s just say that this one caught me with my guard down.
Enough cannot be said for the lift Goldberg gives this character and this film as a whole. His deadpan, unflinching performance lends credibility to even the most moronic of plot twists and keeps the focus on laughs rather than self-awareness. This film could have been a disaster (and make no mistake, it does come dangerously close more than once), but it somehow always finds the means to pull us back at the last moment. A few times during the film, it almost lost me, but then a scene would play out that was so spot-on and pitch-perfect in its over-the-top hilarity that I simply couldn’t stop watching. While Goldberg undoubtedly carries the film, the supporting cast is no less exemplary. Judy Greer gives a disarmingly comedic performance as the daughter of the head of the Jewish Justice League (or JJL for short) who must acquire Mordechai’s services to stop a malicious new Santa Claus heir from destroying Hanukkah. If this sounds ludicrous, it is. The thing is, this film somehow pulls it off by not discriminating in its stereotypes. Just about everyone on Earth is parodied somewhere in the film. You simply have to be able to laugh at yourself or you’ll miss the whole point. Now I ask you, what could be better than that from the perspective of a great satire?
I remember once watching “Undercover Brother” while drinking with a group of friends. The film seemed like the funniest thing I’d ever seen. That is, until the following day when I tried showing it to another friend sober. A part of me wishes I could test this theory with “The Hebrew Hammer”, a movie I found hilarious even without mass quantities of alcoholic supplements (a prerequisite, I have decided, for any “real” comedic gems in the future), and amend this review at a later date. As it stands, I will simply have to recommend this film based solely on its uncompromising wackiness and charm. Sure, it’s stupid and juvenile and half of the jokes are projected, but they’re also good jokes taken to the nth degree by a cast and a director that know how to sell each and every one of them for all they’re worth. For my part, I would put this one up there with the likes of the first two “Austin Powers” films and high above that aforementioned film that was only funny while intoxicated. This was a real treat and another reason to give every movie a chance – even ones you’ve never heard of before. If I hadn’t, I would have missed out on one of the best comedies of the year. It’s wild, crazy, and more than a little dumb in places, but it’s got more wit and wry humor in its first 15 minutes than most comedies dare to compress into an hour and a half. Highly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Although not specified on the packaging, “The Hebrew Hammer” comes equipped with an anamorphic transfer in the film’s original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Frankly, I was more than impressed with the effort put into this presentation. Contrast and black levels are dead-on, and colors are well rendered with accurate flesh tones throughout. There is hair of edge-enhancement, but nothing very distracting. Hardly worth mentioning, really, but that’s my job. As for compression, this is an excellent job all in all respects. No blocking or artifacts pop up anywhere in the film. Sharpness isn’t a factor, either. Everything is as crisp and detailed as you would expect in a major studio release, and I was really taken by the amount of small object detail on display in this transfer. Nice job, Paramount!
Audio: How does it sound?
Also not mentioned on the back (in any specific way anyway), the fantastic Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track on “The Hebrew Hammer” was as surprising as the film itself. This thing is far better than it has any right to be, with deep, booming bass that will thunder through your living room and frequent, heavy surround use that will turn your head at every opportune moment. The dialogue sounds terrific and every joke comes in crystal clear (which, as you’ll see, is important – a few of the one-liners are priceless and happen off screen). Channel separation is very distinct and clean with no bleed through and a wide, full sound field. This is one of the better 5.1 tracks I’ve heard in a while, and I was astonished to find it included with a film branded with the Comedy Central logo. Very well done indeed.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main “extra” on the disc is the commentary by the director, producer, and Adam Goldberg. It’s an extremely funny track that, while short on technical info, is damned near as entertaining to hear as the film is to watch. Goldberg and Kesselman’s banter reminds me of the commentary for Smith’s “Chasing Amy”. Anyone who’s given that one a listen knows what I mean. If this had been the only extra, this disc would still be worth retail, but there’s still more. The original short from which the film took its inspiration is included here in all its slightly disturbing glory, along with several useless (if amusing) deleted scenes and extensions. A gag reel is also included and is sporadically funny. You’ve also got your obligatory cast bios and “scene access”, for those interested in such things these days. So what are you waiting for? Go give this one a rental (or better yet, save the four bucks…you’ll just end up adding that to the purchase price once you buy it later).
