Only The Love Guru Messes With The Zohan!
So unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve been unable to avoid the recent oversaturation of TV commercials and online advertisements for the 2 new movies by beloved and somewhat absent from acting (as of recently) ex-SNL cast members, Michael Myers and Adam Sandler. (I know I personally couldn’t avoid them a few weeks ago, when their trailers ran back-to-back before Iron Man.) Let’s just get this out of the way first: in all likelihood, BOTH of these movies will probably suck balls, but for whatever stupid reason, I’ve noticed a heated debate both online and in casual small talk about which of these two will suck less. In all of these little debates, I keep noticing one prevailing opinion: most people seem to think The Love Guru will suck less.
How wrong they are.
I’ll go as far as saying that You Don’t Mess with Zohan stands a chance–albeit a slight one–at actually being funny (especially while stoned). The Love Guru stands zero chance. Let’s examine, shall we…
From the commercials, it appears Michael Myers is still making the same midget jokes about Vern Troyer that stopped being funny 2 Austin Powers ago (or were they ever not corny?). Actually, he’s making all of the same stupid Austin Powers jokes, just with a pseudo-Indian accent instead of a British one. I actually can’t decide if at this point if he writes his movies’ plots first, or just pulls out his list of one-liners and then builds a new plot around them. (I can’t really blame him since he’s sold two franchises on catch phrases alone…) Now Adam Sandler, too, is basically relying on what works best for him: ethnic stereotypes and the most dumbed-down jokes humanly possible. But if I had to choose my poison, I’d at least rather see some of the things that made Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison so beloved, because at least it’s been a while. It’s been about 10 years since Adam Sandler made an enjoyable comedy of that ilk, and I don’t know why he completely abandoned this formula for his more straight up, dry comedic or occasional dramatic roles. I guess maybe he didn’t want to do what Michael Myers has done and run it into the ground, and instead was smart enough to save it and bust it back out when the time appeared right. And in conclusion… You Don’t Mess With the Zohan will be better because it has Rob Schneider in it, and I love me the Richmeister.
I guess we’ll all know the answer to this heated question in a couple of weeks.
May 25th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Seriously that’s the public opinion you got? I don’t think i’ve spoken to one person who thought The Love Guru was going to suck less than Zohan. Here is no exception.
I overheard someone talking about being on set during The Love Guru and that Mike Myers actually wanted to do 3 nut shots in the hockey scenes. I’m all for people getting hit in the testicles, but only do it once, and don’t call it good comedic writing.
Zohan will win the race for the least terrible summer comedy.
July 1st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Adam Sandler is classic in his own way, though he tends to do his best work when he stays casual, not trying too hard to be funny or deep, etc.