'Hammer' takes whimsical whack at Jewish stereotypes
Comedy Central's "The Hebrew Hammer" may be the funniest Jewsploitation film ever made. Of course, it's the only Jewsploitation film ever made, but still.
This whimsical, wacked-out ethnic comedy is hysterical -- if you're comfortable with rabid political incorrectness, that is. It's a relentless satire of Jewish stereotypes, made with great affection and Mel Brooksian irreverence by first-time writer-director Jonathan Kesselman. Built around the adventures of a superhero who wears a yarmulke and describes himself as "the meanest Hebe this side of Tel Aviv," the movie gets a four-Oy rating.
Basically, "The Hebrew Hammer" (which premieres tonight at 9) is a spoof of 1970s blaxploitation movies with a Semitic spin. Instead of John Shaft, we have Mordechai Jefferson Carver (Adam Goldberg), a Jew who serves as the Hebrew Hammer to protect his people in the "chood" from gentile affronts. When he's not doing private detective work, he's guarding the streets in an Israeli-flag-colored Cadillac that has a Star of David on the hood, avenging the dreidel haters who made his childhood at Saint Peter, Paul, and Mary Public Elementary School such misery. This bearded mensch can take down a bar filled with neo-Nazis in a single trounce -- but that doesn't mean he can cope with his mother (Nora Dunn), who'll never be happy because her superhero son isn't an investment banker.
The plot of the movie has the Hammer trying to save Hanukkah from eradication by Santa's evil son, Damian Claus (Andy Dick). Along with his idiot sidekick, Dickens's Tiny Tim (Sean Whalen), Damian lures the Jewish community into Christian submission by distributing free copies of "It's a Wonderful Life." Quickly, the Hammer counteracts by circulating freebies of "The Chosen" and "Yentl." The Hammer also gets help from the lovely Esther Bloomenbergansteinthal (Judy Greer), as well as the party-hearty Kwanzaa Liberation Front, which is headed by Mohammed (Mario Van Peebles). At the KLF headquarters the Hammer meets Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. for the first time.
Ultimately, the plot is beside the point in "The Hebrew Hammer." The amusement is in the endless parade of knowing Jewish riffs on everything from circumcision to family-obsessed Jews to the expression "Shabbat Shalom." Also, the actors appear to be having a great time pushing the stereotypes -- including Van Peebles and Peter Coyote, who plays the always-noshing leader of the Jewish Justice League, wearing a Star of David patch on one eye. Even former New York mayor Ed Koch shows up for a cameo appearance.
But there's no denying that the movie belongs to Goldberg, who is perfect for the role of a superhero who is as whiny as he is brave. Generally, Goldberg is limited to wry supporting character roles, as the neurotic best friend. But he very successfully expands his insecurity shtick to fill the lead here, and it's hard to imagine anyone else pulling it off so well. Like the Hammer himself, he's 100 percent kosher.
Matthew Gilbert can be reached at gilbert@globe.com.
