When it opened in Germany a couple of years ago, “Go for Zucker” turned into a huge box-office success, but something else, too: a sort of cultural milestone of comedy.
Because it was a Jewish comedy, “Go for Zucker” was seen as a turning point. Here was a German movie about Jews that wasn’t about the Holocaust or an act of atonement. Audiences – Jewish and gentile alike – felt they had permission to laugh again at old-fashioned ethnic comedy.
Or so the thinking went. Whatever its importance in Germany (and the film also touches on post-reconciliation issues between the two sides of Berlin), “Go for Zucker” stands as a broad, thoroughly enjoyable picture, a Mel Brooks-style take on life in Berlin.
Our main character is Jaeckie Zucker, played in a manic, truly heroic performance by Henry Hubchen. Zucker – born Jacob Zuckerman – is a former sportscaster and full-time scalawag, deep in debt because of his gambling.
He was separated from his brother and mother when the Berlin Wall went up; Zucker was on the East side, the family went West. For the first time in years, he’s about to meet his brother Samuel (Udo Samel), who grew up strictly orthodox in his Judaism. To say the least, Zucker didn’t keep the faith.
Their mother has died, and the distribution of her money depends on the two brothers reconciling. So while Samuel and his family come for a visit, Zucker and his nonreligious family are going to pretend to be observant Jews – and hope the inheritance will follow.
It may be a contrived, sitcom premise, but you can see some comic possibilities. And director Dani Levy hits the right notes in complicating Zucker’s life: While supposedly conforming to strict religious custom, Zucker is planning to enter a pool tournament to scare up needed cash. His brilliant idea is to fake heart attacks when he needs a break from the family.
In no way is “Go for Zucker” a great movie, but it delivers the gags, and it takes a healthy, nontouristy look at Berlin, a fascinating city still in transition. The serious comedy about the post-Wall world is still “Goodbye, Lenin!” But for straight laughs, “Go for Zucker” is the ticket.
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