Bad Shabbos: A Home Run from a Scarsdale Director

It has all the elements of a great film:

-An Upper West side location with scenery you’ll recognize.

-A cameo by Gary Greengrass at his famous restaurant.

-A cast of well-loved actors including Kyra Sedgwick and Method Man – plus some wonderful newcomers you’ll grow to love.

And best of all: A Director from Scarsdale!

That’s right, Daniel Robbins of Scarsdale directed and co-wrote the comedy “Bad Shabbos” that will open in theaters this week. The story follows an observant Upper West Side family, gathering for their weekly Shabbat dinner where the oldest son will introduce the parents of his Catholic fiancée. It lures you in with many known Jewish tropes – a nerdy Jewish father who retreats to the Talmud to resolve family conflict, a Jewish mother who makes biting statements about marrying outside the tribe with a frozen smile on her face and kids struggling to live in modern society while hiding the fact that they drove their car to dinner.

At first you think the film will be a send-up of the clash of the old vs. the new, kosher vs. treif and how to get upstairs when you can’t touch the elevator button on Shabbat. But then the disturbed youngest brother emerges from his bedroom and with a sweep of his barbell sends the plot spinning out of control. The film takes a zany turn, pitting the family’s piety against the will to protect themselves from their own actions. They enlist their black doorman into the tsuris and the outcome is hilarious but disturbing at the same time.

Discussing his movie, Robbins says, “This film is about a family trying to find its place, on a night when they’re meeting the in-laws for the first time. It’s a fun kinetic ride that pulls from the great comedies of the past. The films Meet The Parents and My Big Fat Greek Wedding were constantly playing on my parents’ TV, broken up with whatever commercials TNT decided to include. These two films were comedies with tight scripts, big laughs, some heart and authentic portrayals of their subcultures – Chicago Greeks and Long Island Christian."

How was he influenced by growing up in Scarsdale? Robbins, who attended Westchester Day School, said, “I grew up on Heathcote between Crossway and Stratton and my dad coached me in Little League through the years. We had one of the worst teams but always had a good time.

My parents (Marc Robbins and Rise Robbins) met at the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps and both worked there for around 20 years. I attended the synagogue Young Israel of Scarsdale.

I think Scarsdale influenced the film because it was such a warm place to grow up. As a person and also as a Jewish kid. I think that warmth shows on screen. And many of my parents' friends happen to be funny and may have influenced the jokes in the film.”

Watch a trailer here and reserve tickets at Mamaroneck Cinema for the opening on June 6 here.