'You Don't Mess With the Zohan': Q&A with Adam Sandler
By Emily Christianson, Hollywood.com Staff
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Thursday, June 05, 2008
HW: Fellow screenwriter Robert Smigel told the New York Times that comedy dealing with race and prejudice is likely to make some people mad. Was that the intent? To stir things up?
AS: No, my intention is never to hurt anyone. I'm happy when people are having a good time, and I gotta tell you if someone comes up to me and is offended by anything I've done in the past, I listen to them--I'm bummed out. Cause I certainly don't...when we're working our asses off on the script and making the movie, I'm just picturing people having a great time. The fact that anybody walks away saying, "oh man, I wish they didn't say that"--that breaks my heart. We just want to make a funny movie. That's it.
HW: In the film Zohan’s Arab love interest Dalia is hesitant to pursue a relationship. Did your family ever have an issue with you dating a woman who wasn’t Jewish?
AS: No, no, my family...let's see, I've always just had troubles with my family because I'm psychotic [laughs]. Nothing to do with that, but no, no, nothing big. When I was kid, yeah, my family, parents, wanted me to marry a Jewish girl because that was what they taught their children and thought it would be an easier life for me to raise a Jewish kid, and I have a Jewish wife, I have a Jewish kid. They seem pretty happy about it.