The Hebrew Hammer

Speaking of oddball jewish heros, its a good time to mention The Hebrew Hammer in which a circumsized superhero detective, complete with black leather trenchcoat, confronts an evil Santa determined to undermine the religious affiliation of jewish kids.

Like Everything is Illuminated, this movie runs through a checklist of staple items in the jewish cultural identity kit, yet unlike the book, is not purely exploitative. It's sympathetic and yet honest in its portrayal of american jewish life. It's funny in a wonderfully nebish way, and if you didn't understand that phrase, you won't get most of the film either ;-)