Opening scenes - Analysis: 2 - You Don't Mess With the Zohan

The second opening sequence I'm going to look at and analyse is "You Don't Mess With the Zohan", a comedy.



The opening sequence contains the following conventions: 

• Includes titles 
• Introduces important characters, revealing their traits 
• Introduces the setting 
• Establishes genre
• Establishes style 
• Sound

In stark contrast to the opening of "The Purge" this scene is almost entirely about establishing character. Our main character is introduced and eventually given a name (Zohan), but this sequence is less concerned with showing us who he is and instead focuses instead on how people see him. He is admired everywhere he goes, women lust after him, he's the king of the world. Next we establish that he has skills and strength way beyond the average person. All of these aspects are played to the extreme for comic effect, but the conventions of establishing character are the same as in any other film, just played for a different tone.

The tone is established by the ridiculousness of the feats he accomplishes; by defeating the bull in a tug of war, the film tells the audience that the rules of their world do not apply here, and that this film is not to be taken seriously. This combined with the upbeat music and the over-the-top reactions from the crowd establish that this film is intended to be viewed as silly fun.

Finally, the setting of the beach and the Israeli music establish that this opening scene is not taking place in America, despite the majority of the film being set there.