Movies of the Week - Jews: The Chosen Movies

Just in time for the High Holy Days, here are five comedies about Jewish-American life. From dietary restrictions to interfaith marriage, what's a good Jew to do? The movie for Friday -- A Man And His Banana -- is not technically Jewish because of rules against working on the Sabbath—but it is something a young Woody Allen might have made.

The Hebrew Hammer
This movie turns the "nice Jewish boy" stereotype upside down and squashes it, along with Santa Claus. He's a bad dude, sick of being Jewish at Christmastime, and he's got a gun. Written and directed by Jonathan Kesselman, who later made the feature film version starring Adam Goldberg.

Gossip: The Evil Tongue
A little gossip at a Jewish wedding is to be expected, but this time it's a big deal—the bride may not be a Member Of The Tribe.

The Wedding Bout
Here's another look at marriage outside the faith, this time with the bride and groom in a boxing match symbolizing the clash of cultures, with lots of kibitzing onlookers. Can't we all just get along?

Bacon and the Gefilte
He knows he shalt not commit adultery against his Jewish wife, but what if it's food that he's actually lusting after? And what if, God forbid, it's pork?

A Man and His Banana
Food and sex together again, this time with a New Yorker so neurotic he has a banana for a pet, and it talks with him philosophically about love and life. No wonder his girlfriend leaves him. The story, characters, and light jazz music are all Woody Allen-esque. Instead of Love and Death, it could be called Love and Produce.