Year: 2003
Runtime: 85 min
Director: Jonathan Kesselman
Budget: $2M
A hip and holy Jewish detective, known as the Hebrew Hammer, takes on a formidable challenge when Santa's villainous son threatens Hanukkah. Donning his fedora, he must use his wits and strength to outmaneuver this festive foe and protect the holiday season. The fate of the menorah, and Hanukkah itself, rests on his shoulders in this sidesplitting comedy.
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In a touching prologue, we are taken back to a young Mordechai Jefferson Carver (played by an undisclosed actor), who grapples with his identity in a predominantly Christian public school. As he traverses the challenging landscape of childhood, Mordechai faces constant reminders of his Jewish background, which renders him an outsider. The omnipresent Christmas decorations and festive displays amplify his feelings of isolation, leaving him to wrestle with being different in a world that does not seem to welcome him.
Fast forward to the present, and we meet an older Mordechai, now known as the Hebrew Hammer—a flamboyant and self-declared protector of Jewish values. Donning an ensemble that fuses elements of a pimp with those of a Hasidic rabbi, Mordechai carries an air of confidence that has earned him the designation of a hero within the Jewish community.
Meanwhile, the world outside has transformed significantly. The current Santa—a product of the cruelty of his predecessor who once ruined Mordechai’s dreidel—advocates for inclusivity, spearheading a tentative peace among Jews, African Americans, and Christians. However, this hard-won truce is jeopardized when Damian, the new Santa, ascends to power with an iron-fisted agenda to eliminate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, declaring December to be Christmas’s sole domain.
Initially hesitant to reignite his fight, Mordechai soon finds himself compelled to rally against Damian’s oppressive regime. He gathers an eclectic team, which includes Esther Bloomenbergensteinenthal, the charming daughter of the Chief of the Jewish Justice League, and Mohammed Ali Paula Abdul Rahim, the leader of the Kwanzaa Liberation Front.
As tensions escalate and the confrontation with Damian’s forces intensifies, Mordechai and his eclectic band embark on a thrilling adventure, jet-setting across various exotic locales including Israel, K-Mart, and the landmark Jewish Atomic Clock situated near Jerusalem. With everything at stake, they set their sights on the North Pole for an epic climax that will not only influence the fate of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa but also shape the future of interfaith coexistence.
Last Updated: November 19, 2024 at 20:37
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