You may not always laugh at it. But you can't help indulging its junior-high jitters.
Hebrew Hammer (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:23
Fresh:12
Rotten:11
Average Rating:5.1/10
Runtime: 86 mins
Genre: Comedies
Synopsis: THE HEBREW HAMMER is a holiday movie that is most definitely not for kids. Adam Goldberg stars as Mordechai Jefferson Carver, also known as the Hebrew Hammer, a private detective who has an... THE HEBREW HAMMER is a holiday movie that is most definitely not for kids. Adam Goldberg stars as Mordechai Jefferson Carver, also known as the Hebrew Hammer, a private detective who has an overbearing mother (Nora Dunn) and a propensity to whine when things get difficult. He is hired by Bloomenbergensteinthal (Peter Coyote), chief of the Jewish Justice League, to prevent Damian Claus (Andy Dick) from killing Hanukkah. The Semitic Stallion seeks out help in the form of the Kwanzaa Liberation Front, headed by Mohammed Ali (Mario Van Peebles in a great afro), while also falling for the JJL chief's daughter, Esther (Judy Greer). Damian, who has his father brutally murdered by reindeer, Santa (Richard Riehle), is supported by his right-hand man, low-grade hood Tiny Tim (Sean Whalen). It's hard to tell which side Jamal is on--but this foul-mouthed decadent elf is played by Tony Cox, who handles a similar role in the later BAD SANTA. The ultimate battle between good and evil awaits in this riotous Jewxploitation film that never met a stereotype or offensive joke it didn't like. Writer-director Jonathan Kesselman's debut feature film pays homage to SHAFT, SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSS SONG, and other blaxploitation favorites, filled with shootouts, curses, and sex, so leave the children at home. But don't look away for a second or you'll miss another groan-inducing hysterical joke or funny cameo. And the theme song, a takeoff on Isaac Hayes's theme from SHAFT, is a classic. [More]
Starring: Adam Goldberg, Judy Greer, Andy Dick, Sean Whalen
Starring: Adam Goldberg, Judy Greer, Andy Dick, Sean Whalen, Mario Van Peebles, Nora Dunn, Peter Coyote, Tony Cox
Director: Jonathan Kesselman
Director: Jonathan Kesselman
Screenwriter: Jonathan Kesselman
Producer: Sofia Sondervan, Josh Kesselman, Lisa Fragner
Composer: Michael Cohen
Studio: Strand Releasing
Reviews for Hebrew Hammer
The corker-to-groaner ratio heavily favors the latter as the bagel-and-dreidel jokes begin to lose their spark, as does the story.
Even a gentile can appreciate the witty wordplay and visual puns flying off the screen at a mile a minute.
One of the biggest joys here is the conversion of Adam Goldberg from 'colorful backup' to 'comic action hero', and while The Hebrew Hammer may not vault the actor into leading man status, he easily carries the entire movie.
Latest News for Hebrew Hammer
May 18, 2005:
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Although their new company has yet to receive an official name, that's not stopping the Weinstein brothers from making a few Cannes purchases. The brothers just snapped up North... More...
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