Identified as “the baddest Hebrew this side of Tel Aviv,” Adam Goldberg takes center stage in one of the most outlandish and entertaining holiday films you’ll ever unwrap. I discovered the 2003 indy title “The Hebrew Hammer” while doing my annual search of obscure seasonal movies. The word obscure, in this case, would be a great understatement.
The opening placard quickly lets the viewer know that the movie is not even a little bit serious. Typical Jewish stereotypes are mocked, with some more clever ones are inserted as a change up, like a young Jewish boy clutching a Sandy Koufax lunch pale.
The titular character comes courtesy of comical actor Adam Goldberg, who plays Mordechai Jefferson Carver. As a young boy, Mordechai is ridiculed by his fellow non-Jewish classmates, and even his teacher who ignorantly mispronounces Hanukah in a phonetic way. Being force fed Christmas amidst anti-Semitic jargon, Mordechai grows up to be a superhero detective and hero for Judaism in his tight knit Jewish community.
Playing out in similar style with the absurdity of “Spaceballs,” “The Hebrew Hammer” is unlike anything you’ve ever seen during the holiday season. With silly humor at every turn (like Mordechai being distracted in a gunfight by a bowl of matzo ball soup) Goldberg is flat out funny. Joining his side is the equally comical (and one of my personal crushes) Judy Greer as his love interest Esther Bloomenbergensteinenthal (of course).
Writer/Director Jonathan Kesselman does a perfect job of blending a detective and superhero story with the backdrop of Christmas and Hanukah. A thoroughly ridiculous plot makes the shenanigans that much more special. When the evil Damian Clause (Andy Dick) takes power in the North Pole, he attempts to rid the world of Hanukah for good, thus sending the Hammer on a mission to stop him. It can’t get weirder than that.
Andy Dick has appeared as a comical actor in a host of movies and TV shows (most famously as Matthew in the classic ’90s sitcom NewsRadio) and tends to be a love or hate talent. I fall on the love side, finding his quirky antics and overall obnoxious behavior to be a riot. If you fall in line with me, you’ll enjoy the perfect casting choice as the sinister heir to Santa (with a hysterical intro in which he orchestrates a coup to seize power).
“The Hebrew Hammer” earns its ‘R’ rating with language, comical violence, and racial slurs. While some gags can run a bit too long and dry out as a result, “Hammer” will keep you laughing throughout. Getting a copy for your December rotation wouldn’t be the worst thing you could do.
It’s tough to blend adult humor with the holiday season, but “The Hebrew Hammer” succeeds. Kesselman, Goldberg and company prove that a Jewish satirical story is not only possible, but can be achieved. Mr Sandler, take note, sir.
by – Matt Christopher
