Gut Shabbos is the universal greeting of the Ashkenazi Jews wishing a good day of rest for the sabbath, kind of like saying, “have a good weekend” or used as a greeting on the actual Jewish Sabbath of Friday evening or Saturday day. Over the years American Jews of all stripes have adopted the saying as Good Shabbos.
Bad Shabbos, is the name of a new film, a dark comedy, currently showing at your local movie theater. It has laugh-out-loud moments, and if seen with a sympathetic audience (alright, let’s call it a haimish group), the laughs are sure to be infectious.
Directed by Daniel Robbins and written by Robbins and Zack Wiener, the film raises the stakes on what could possibly go wrong at a Sabbath dinner where the male lead (Jon Bass) brings his studying-to-convert fiancée (Morgan Leathers) to his parents’ home for a dinner to meet her Wisconsin church-going parents who are not happy about their daughter abandoning their religion to become Jewish.
What could go wrong? What if the lead’s Klonopin popping younger brother (Theo Taplitz) plays a prank which results in his sister’s boyfriend’s death? How about the Black doorman (played by Method Man who steals the movie) saving the day.
The supporting cast are experienced pros, including the Jewish parents, played by David Paymer and Kyra Sedgwick (who doesn’t get to play Jewish as often as her Jewish heritage might allow). Milana Vayntrub. who is world famous as the face of AT&T Cellular’s commercials, plays the sister; Josh Mostel has a cameo, as does Gary Greengrass, scion of the Upper West Side deli mecca Barney Greengrass.
Does the movie indulge in Jewish stereotypes? Of course. Is some of the comedy forced? Naturlicht. But here’s the thing: These are tough times. Whether you are worried about your 201K or the state of the world, country by country, a laugh is hard to come by.
You don’t have to love a Bad Shabbos, you just should go and laugh.