The Hebrew Hammer (2002)

52% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(7,285 ratings)

He's hip, he's fly, and he never mixes meat with dairy -- he's the world's first Jewish private eye, and he's out to save the world in this satiric comedy. Mordechai Jefferson Carver (Adam Goldberg) is a super-cool Jewish detective who takes no mess and is always ready to do the right thing for his… More He's hip, he's fly, and he never mixes meat with dairy -- he's the world's first Jewish private eye, and he's out to save the world in this satiric comedy. Mordechai Jefferson Carver (Adam Goldberg) is a super-cool Jewish detective who takes no mess and is always ready to do the right thing for his Torah-reading brothers. But Carver is a lone wolf, and he isn't so sure he's interested in taking an assignment from Chief Bloomenbergansteinthal (Peter Coyote) of the Jewish Justice League -- or at least not until he meets the chief's gorgeous daughter, Esther (Judy Greer). It seems a mysterious stranger named Damien (Andy Dick) has made it his business to persuade Jewish children to abandon their faith in favor of celebrating Christmas, and it's Carver's job to put an end to Damien's campaign while urging kids to be proud of their Semitic heritage. The Hebrew Hammer also features Nora Dunn as Carver's kvetching mother, and a cameo appearance by Melvin Van Peebles as outlaw blaxploitation icon Sweetback. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Jonathan Kesselman
Written By: Jonathan Kesselman
Genres: Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 19, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Nov 16, 2004
Studio: ContentFilm

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Profane, shockingly un-PC and often laugh-out-loud hilarious, this is the sort of parody that the folks who made the Airplane and Naked Gun movies used to make -- funny.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Kesselman keeps the movie crackling with the raucous energy absent since Mel Brooks' heyday.
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post
Desperation is the project's principal quality.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
The movie hits as much as it misses, with enough witty observations to ensure that somewhere, Kesselman's mother is kvelling.
David Rooney, Variety
Kesselman's thin script generally is funniest when it's riffing on Jewish stereotypes and goyish bigotry.
Matt Weitz, Dallas Morning News
An insubstantial but highly entertaining flick.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Corny and crude at times, but effective in its single-minded pursuit of laughs.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
[E]nds up veering from ridiculous but pointed commentary into abusing and insulting those [the film] intends to champion...
Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly
Everybody needs a little burlesque fun with his digital reprogramming, and the politically incorrect good times barely let up in this story.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
A scattershot assortment of jokes that is funniest when it sticks to its neat premise.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
The movie starts out hilarious but like The Hammer's Jewish mother, it starts to nag at you after awhile.
, E! Online
Doesn't quite nail it, but it's not as bad as it sounds, either.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Uneven, profane and occasionally flat-out hilarious.
Chris Barsanti, Filmcritic.com
plays like a lower (much, much lower) budgeted, Jewish version of Malcolm Lee's funnier Undercover Brother

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Aaron N

The first "Jewsploitation" movie. Essentially it's a jewish version of Shaft. Of course, this is a pure comedy that's all about its setups and gags. All the actors make it work for the most part though. A number of good scenes make this work as a whole.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic][font=Book Antiqua]In "Hebrew Hammer", Santa Claus is killed by his son, Damian(Andy Dick) who now wants to get rid[/font] of Hanukah. Only the Hebrew Hammer, Mordecai Jefferson Carver(Adam Goldberg), aided by the beautiful Esther(Judy Greer) and the… More
[font=Century Gothic][font=Book Antiqua]In "Hebrew Hammer", Santa Claus is killed by his son, Damian(Andy Dick) who now wants to get rid[/font] of Hanukah. Only the Hebrew Hammer, Mordecai Jefferson Carver(Adam Goldberg), aided by the beautiful Esther(Judy Greer) and the leader of the Kwanzaa Liberation Front(Mario van Peebles) can stop the new Santa Claus from carrying out his nefarious schemes.[/font] "Hebrew Hammer" is an amusingly silly spoof of blaxploitation movies of the 70's with a serious message of tolerance. It simultaneously tries to send up stereotypes(Mordecai is Jewish and macho) but also uses them on occasion.(For example, Nora Dunn is extremely annoying as a Jewish mother.) There are some wonderful moments. And a couple of great cameos add to the fun. Goldberg is likable and Greer is quite appealing. In the end, the movie really does not make much sense but that does not mean it cannot be enjoyed.
Stephen E

Great low-budget film that is one of the best examples of modern exploitation. Hilarious take on Christmas and the whole private-eye range of films, such as "Shaft". I'm not Jewish, and I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
Stephen E

Great low-budget film that is one of the best examples of modern exploitation. Hilarious take on Christmas and the whole private-eye range of films, such as "Shaft". I'm not Jewish, and I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
Marion R

I saw this on Comedy Central, I thought it was really funny.