Good Shabbos, Bad Shabbos: A Dark Comedy Movie
Gut Shabbos is the universal greeting of the Ashkenazi Jews wishing a good day of rest for the sabbath, kind of like saying, 'have a good weekend' or used as a greeting on the actual Jewish Sabbath of Friday evening or Saturday day. Over the years American Jews of all stripes have adopted the saying as Good Shabbos.
Bad Shabbos, is the name of a new film, a dark comedy, currently showing at your local movie theater. It has laugh-out-loud moments, and if seen with a sympathetic audience (alright, let's call it a haimish group), the laughs are sure to be infectious.
Directed by Daniel Robbins and written by Robbins and Zack Wiener, the film raises the stakes on what could possibly go wrong at a Sabbath dinner where the male lead (Jon Bass) brings his studying-to-convert fiancée (Morgan Leathers) to his parents' home for a dinner to meet her Wisconsin church-going parents who are not happy about their daughter abandoning their religion to become Jewish.
What could go wrong? What if the lead's Klonopin popping younger brother (Theo Taplitz) plays a prank which results in his sister's boyfriend's death? How about the Black doorman (played by Method Man who steals the movie) saving the day.
The supporting cast are experienced pros, including the Jewish parents, played by David Paymer and Kyra Sedgwick (who doesn't get to play Jewish as often as her Jewish heritage might allow). Milana Vayntrub. who is world famous as the face of AT&T Cellular's commercials, plays the sister; Josh Mostel has a cameo, as does Gary Greengrass, scion of the Upper West Side deli mecca Barney Greengrass.
Does the movie indulge in Jewish stereotypes? Of course. Is some of the comedy forced? Naturlicht. But here's the thing: These are tough times. Whether you are worried about your 201K or the state of the world, country by country, a laugh is hard to come by.
You don't have to love a Bad Shabbos, you just should go and laugh.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
A Newton teen is a fish out of water in Austin — and then things get weird
The novel's opening mystery is the disappearance of a Newton teenager named Nathaniel Rothstein, who had been spending the summer in Austin with his uncle after an altercation with another student. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Like Nathaniel I was a white Jewish kid who went to Newton South High School,' Schaefer says, although he's quick to point out that the character is not autobiographical. 'Except for the demographics, he's very unlike me. We have very little in common: he's straight, I'm gay; he was on the stage crew, I was on the stage.' In Austin, Nathaniel finds himself navigating a landscape radically different from his suburban Massachusetts hometown — especially in the racially diverse crowd at the boxing gym where his uncle is a regular. Advertisement 'I graduated from Newton South in 2000,' Schaefer says, noting that in his childhood 'there was so much discussion about diversity and inclusion, but the community didn't always look diverse and inclusive. There were tensions and contradictions there that I was interested in exploring.' As the novel unspools and the plot thickens, readers are guaranteed to encounter characters unlike themselves, and maybe that's the point. 'I just feel like we're in this moment where we're very aware of differences and that's so important,' he adds. 'But where is our shared human or collective humanity? Where does that fit into our current discourse? I don't think the book answers that question but I think that's a preoccupation of the book and something I'd certainly hope that readers thought about.' Lucas Schaefer will read at 7 p.m. Friday, June 14, at . And now for some recommendations ... Have you felt lately that everything seems a little more expensive and a little less satisfying? Have your favorite small businesses gone bankrupt and your local newspaper shuttered, while your longtime doctor's office now sports a zippy new corporate name and no longer answers their phone? In ' ' (Dey Street Books), Megan Greenwell explains why — the rise of private equity, a financial tool wielded by modern-day robber barons that has led to enormous wealth held by the very few, and left local communities and everyday people reeling in its wake. Not a fun read, but a must-read. ' ' (Liveright), a debut novel by Phil Melanson, is everything historical fiction should be: immersive, exciting, and eye-opening. The book follows a teenaged Leonardo da Vinci as he sets out to enter Florence's art world and attract the attention of Lorenzo di Medici, the banking family's youngest and most extravagant patron of the arts. With its twisty plot and sly humor, 'Florenzer' also explores the pleasures and risks of being a gay man during the Renaissance, a time of extreme intellectual and artistic growth but also scandals, hypocrisy, and danger. Advertisement Kate Tuttle edits the Globe's Books section. Kate Tuttle, a freelance writer and critic, can be reached at
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Sixth Sense' Star Haley Joel Osment Sentenced After April Arrest
A California judge has made a ruling after Oscar-nominated actor Haley Joel Osment was arrested for suspected public intoxication, People reported. Sixth Sense star Osment was arrested on April 8 in Mammoth Lakes, CA, on charges of alleged public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance. He was arraigned in a local court on June 2. During his arraignment, Osment requested and was granted a one-year diversion which requires him to attend three AA meetings each week for the next six months. Osment must also meet with his therapist at least twice weekly during the next six months and obey all to the outlet, the Mono County district attorney's office objected to Osment's diversion request because of the actor's previous DUI conviction. They also cited Osment's use of racial slurs towards arresting officers as reason the diversion should not have been granted. During his arrest, Osment accused one officer of being 'a f---ing Nazi' and use an antisemitic slur against another. If Osment completes the diversion program, the court will dismiss all charges related to the most recent incident. However, criminal proceedings will be reinstated if Osment does not complete the program. Osment will next appear in court on Jan. 5, 2026, when the judge will review his compliance with the issued an apology back in April for the 'disgraceful language' he used during his arrest, explaining that 'the past few months of loss and displacement' after losing his home in January's Eaton fire 'have broken me down to a very low emotional place.' "I'm absolutely horrified by my behavior. Had I known I used this disgraceful language in the throes of a blackout, I would have spoken up sooner," Osment said in his statement. "But that's no excuse for using this disgusting word. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts. What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage—I've let the Jewish community down and it devastates me. I don't ask for anyone's forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake."Though Osment is best known for his adolescent roles in The Sixth Sense and Pay It Forward, he's maintained a busy career in subsequent years with over 130 acting credits. Most recently, he appeared opposite Channing Tatum in Zoë Kravitz's 2024 thriller Blink Twice.'Sixth Sense' Star Haley Joel Osment Sentenced After April Arrest first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 3, 2025
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jeremy Piven credits family support helped fuel comedic career
(NewsNation) — Actor and comedian Jeremy Piven has been on the road with his stand-up comedy tour, but this week he's bringing the laughs back to Chicago, where it all began. The three-time Emmy Award winner is set to film his comedy special this Friday at The Vic Theatre, with two shows at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. He told 'Morning in America' that choosing Chicago was a no-brainer. 'This is my favorite place in the world,' Piven said. 'I knew I wanted to shoot my special here because I'm home.' Forensic video expert to testify in Diddy trial Piven recently buried his mother, Joyce Piven, in Chicago, whom he credits as a foundational part of his life and career. She helped shape his career with one rule: 'You can say whatever you want as long as it's funny.' 'That was very empowering because you felt like you had something to say,' Piven said. I've been improvising since I was a kid and trying to get my own lines in whatever I was filming … every once in a while I'd slip in an improv and it would make it into maybe a catch phrase like 'Let's hug it out —–.'' Piven also spoke about the raw challenge of doing stand-up. 'To do stand-up, you have to be willing to walk through public humiliation, and people don't want to be humiliated,' he said. But being from Chicago, I don't think people in this community realize how important they are because they support creative types. So, they go out and watch someone at a 99-seat black box or the Goodman or the Pitman Theatre so that we get reps, so that by the time we go out there on a national stage, we're ready because the community has supported us.' Blake Lively withdraws some claims against Justin Baldoni In addition to his comedy, Piven recently starred in 'The Performance,' a film he calls the best work of his life. Directed by his sister and based on a short story given to him by his late mother, the film explores a Jewish tap dancer who is recruited to perform a one-night engagement in Berlin in the 1930s. 'It's just incredible work that I knew if I could pull it off, which we did by the way, then it'll be the best work of my life,' he said. 'My sister did a brilliant job. It'll be out this year, and it's a tribute to my mom.' As for the comedy special, Piven hopes audiences leave with more than just laughter and walk away with a sense of who he is. Tickets for Friday's shows at The Vic are available at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
