From The Droolworthy to the Dreck: Guess Where Zohan Fits?

If you read this blog, you know that I tend to ignore the Pundits in almost any field — but especially in the movie business. I am still chuckling over the way they blew SATC, which in Week 2, has femme-powered its way to just under $100 million domestic.

Then there’s The Zohan.

It seemed like the perfect evening for a silly summer movie. The Guru’s Crew has enormous tolerance for the relentlessly ridiculous, giggle-goofy flick. We love Jud Apatow, especially when no one else does. (Forgetting Sarah Marshall.) In fact, more than one of us has a long history of rushing to anything panned by the New York Times.  And if the movie is considered dreck by Rex Reed, then it’s full speed ahead and maybe Fandango it, just in case. So though we’d been warned, we still headed defiantly to this latest Adam Sandler comedy.

Apparently, we weren’t alone.  Zohan managed to kick up more than $38 million in weekend 1. 

Although there is the occasional funny bit in The Zohan and a couple of trippy cameos,  the humor is feeble indeed. In fact, it’s feeble enough that its subject matter — the Middle East does Manhattan –is not even genuinely offensive. It’s mostly embarrassing.

The Love Guru, Mike Myers’ new flick opening June 20th, also seems a bit tired and forced.  At least judging by the response of the audience during the previews. The Verne Troyer scenes, like the bizarre Mariah Carey scenes in Zohan, appear to fall flat. (Pun intended.)