While the battle between Muslims and Jews has been one that has raged for centuries, it is only now that it is once again coming to the fore due to world affairs.
The premise of this film is one which has been used numerous times in many comedic films. A person who belongs to one group or organisation then finds out they are really part of a rival group or organisation. That is what this film uses but to very little effect. Writer David Baddiel has taken a cliched situation and used it to make some very cliched jokes. All the comedic situations that our hero Mahmud Nasir finds himself in are very obvious and not terribly funny. I did, however, enjoy a subplot involving a former 80's singer. I found that reveal the best part of the film.
Omid Djalili is an actor you have all seen before playing a humorous side-kick in some Hollywood films and TV shows. Now he gets front and centre. I think he can be quite funny but I think he is let down by the material here. He is though excellent at switching from the comedy to the more dramatic moments of the film. I have been a fan of Richard Schiff since his work on 'The West Wing'. We've not seen him much since then so it is great to see him here. Archie Panjabi has become recognisable now after her Emmy Award winning performance in the TV series 'The Good Wife'. While she does not have many jokes it is good to see her in something funny. I also liked the cameo from Matt Lucas.
While this is a pleasant film with a few laughs, it is not as funny as it could be. There is some exploration of the political and religious struggle but not as in depth as you may like.
No comments:
Post a Comment