Jewish Actors and the Hilarity in their Films

By Amanda Friedman
Binghamton University

I don’t know about you, but whenever I see a movie and know that the actor is Jewish, I feel proud. I know that their being Jewish doesn’t make them any better or different, but I like knowing, especially since there are so few Jews in this world, that one I see on the screen is popular and stands for something. Many times, these Jews on the big screen are comedians, such as Seth Rogen or Adam Sandler. I love how they even play Jewish characters in their films and make jokes about themselves, without, of course, being taken seriously. It gives everyone something to laugh about, whether the audience is Jewish, Christian, or otherwise.

In the movie Knocked Up, when Martin, Ben Stone’s (Seth Rogen) friend says, "I’m glad I’m not a Jew," Ben says, "You weren’t chosen for a reason." This line makes light of the fact that the Jews are the Chosen People, or were chosen to be in a covenant with God. Ben realizes that his friend is putting him down because he is a minority, but he nonetheless is trying to bring himself up by saying Jews are special because they were the ones who were chosen. Ben is saying his friend was not chosen to be a Jew because, in his opinion, he is just not good enough.

Also in Knocked Up, Allison (Katherine Heigl) says to Ben "I love your curly hair! It’s great…do you use product or anything?" and Ben says, "No…I use, uh, Jew it’s called." Ben is making fun of his "jewfro," a large, round Jewish hairstyle some Jews possess, just like some African-Americans have the "afro." Christians are not known to have that type of hair, or if they do, there is no name for it. Ben’s line is funny because the audience knows what he is talking about. Ben says that line, the audience laughs along with him. However, just like African Americans take pride in their afros, a lot of Jewish men take pride in their jewfros as well.

In the movie Superbad, Seth Rogen plays Officer Michaels, a rather dumb cop. A store has just been robbed and Mindy, the cashier, describes the robber as being not "African" but "American." She says to the cop, "He looked just like you." Officer Michaels replies, "He was Jewish! An odd crime for a Jew to commit." This is funny because Mindy is inferring the robber was Caucasian, not Jewish. Usually, one can’t tell whether someone is Jewish just by looking at them. However, one can clearly tell if another person is white or not. Officer Michaels obviously views Judaism as a major part of his identity, so it is the first thing that comes to his mind. It is funny because the audience knows what Mindy is talking about, but Officer Michaels is clearly in his own world.

In I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Chuck (Adam Sandler) tells Larry (Kevin James) to wear a yarmulke, as it would make his mother proud. Chuck says he has to wear a yarmulke because "I’m Jewish. I don’t want to piss my mother off." Larry replies, "Yeah? Well, I’m Catholic. I don’t want to piss Mel Gibson off." This statement Larry makes can be seen as offensive, because Mel Gibson is thought of as being anti-Semitic, based on remarks he has publicly made about Jews. However, Chuck and Larry is a comedy, and Larry is obviously joking that Mel Gibson would be angry that he would wear something Jewish. Larry knows Mel Gibson isn’t actually next to them and watching their actions. The line is funny because the audience understands the point of the statement.

In the movies, Knocked Up, Superbad, and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, the actors Seth Rogen and Adam Sandler are not only Jewish in real life, but play Jewish characters in their films. Since they are Jewish, they are allowed to make fun of themselves without there being real controversy, and their lines are so great because the audience knows that the movie is a comedy, these are jokes, and it is ok to laugh. Everything they say is so lighthearted and fun that the audience can’t help but love these Jewish characters.

Amanda Friedman is a senior Psychology student at Binghamton University. She loves taking part in Jewish life in college and is involved in Challah for Hunger and Hillel.

[Posted 7/11/10]