December isn’t just for the Christmas season. The month celebrates many different holidays for a vast amount of different denominations and religions. One being Hanukkah celebrating the Macabee’s victory against the Seleucid empire and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days (thus eight candles on the menorah). Hannukah 2020 began Thursday and we are here to discuss one of Adam Sandler’s most underrated movies.
We know Adam Sandler is no stranger to the Hanukkah season. (He is Jewish and even created an anthem to the holiday). Now if you haven’t seen his classic Eight Crazy Nights then you are truly missing out. The story follows Davey Stone the town screw up who is just skating through life being a dead beat (Not paying for four scorpion bowls, which is really impressive he can still walk after that.) Due to a drunkenly musical number running from the cops Davey is forced to do some community service with the kindhearted and lovable Whitey. Whitey is a tiny disfigured man with two different sized feet and lives with his equally disfigured sister.
Davey we find out has a tragic past and because of this he went down a rough path and his life got out of hand. Luckily for Davey, Whitey is trying to do some good for him and sees the person he truly is. I know you’re saying well how is this a Hanukkah movie? Well The character of Davey is Jewish (he’s basically cartoon Sandler) and he rekindles an old flame with the beautiful Jennifer (Actually played by Sandler’s wife) and her son Benjamin becomes his basketball protege. They also celebrate Hanukkah and discuss the gifts Benjamin receives a couple nights. There is a large representation of the Hanukkah season and even see a giant ice Menorah next to an ice Santa Claus.
It’s interesting to see a Hanukkah movie that over shadows the Christmas season. We seem to think that Christmas is the most celebrated, but it’s nice that another holiday gets in the limelight. Allowing the Jewish people a film they can relate to and see some of their traditions portrayed on the big screen. Like I said this is a totally underrated film and I have to say the musical numbers in this are some of Sandler’s best work. (Not only is the movie underrated, but Adam has some pipes.) I really think Eight Crazy Nights is a hilarious telling of the festival of lights and if you get the chance this is definitely one you will want to check out.
Happy Holidays & Happy Hanukkah!
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