Tribeca Festival audience award winner, "Bad Shabbos" is a dark comedy set against the backdrop of a disastrous Sabbath dinner. Meg, a non-Jewish woman, joins her fiancé David's eccentric Jewish family in a night upturned with a morbid twist.
The host Gelfand family features a micromanaging mother, charming father, calm eldest son, neurodivergent teenage son, and a sister going through a breakup. The latter accidentally kills one of the dinner guests. The cover-up attempts lead to a series of accidents, and chaotic scheming.
Method Man's performance as the doorman Jordan, who is enlisted to help dispose of the body, is praised for adding to the frantic action without resorting to clichés or stereotypical portrayals.
The film's authentic portrayal of the Upper West Side setting, the director's fondness for the milieu, and a minimal but aptly used jazzy score and on-screen titles are also highlighted as strengths.
Despite some shortcomings, such as a predictable ending and lackluster climax, the film succeeded in captivating audiences due to Method Man's performance and Robbins' potential to balance humor, odd situations, and character dynamics.
Sources: Yahoo, Jacksonville Free Press, Variety, MovieWeb, and The Hollywood Reporter.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
