An engaged interfaith couple are about to have their parents meet for the first time over a Shabbat dinner when an accidental manslaughter gets in the way.
I was pleasantly surprised by writer / director Daniel Robbins’ “Bad Shabbos,” a film that delivers a very Jewish, very New York spin on the classic one-night-gone-wrong comedy. The film walks a fine line between being culturally specific and universally funny, and for the most part, it succeeds. After all, humor about family dysfunction, religious tension, and trying to keep it together in front of your in-laws are topics that are relatable to almost anyone.
The story centers on two couples: Abby (Milana Vayntrub) and Benjamin, and David (Jon Bass) and Meg (Meghan Leathers), the latter a recent convert with her devout Catholic parents en route to meet her beau’s parents (Kyra Sedgwick and David Paymer). They gather for what should be a calm Shabbat dinner, only for things to unravel after an accidental death causes pure chaos. With a body to hide, guests to appease, and secrets bubbling to the surface, the film builds into a deliciously madcap crescendo of escalating disasters.
The movie is well cast, with Sedgwick stealing the show as the overbearing and slightly neurotic matriarch, and a surprise turn from Method Man as the building’s doorman adds a fresh, quirky layer to the madness. Everyone seems to be having fun, and that energy translates to the screen.
While the premise is outrageous, it’s surprisingly enjoyable. The humor balances the absurdity with just the right amount of heart, never feeling too mean-spirited or exaggerated. It’s a fun, unpredictable ride that’s light enough to enjoy without taking itself too seriously, but smart enough to keep you engaged through all the twists.
Ultimately, “Bad Shabbos” isn’t a perfect film, but it’s a mostly successful, brisk, breezy comedy with a distinctly Jewish flavor. It hits all the right notes on family, faith, and identity.
