PITTSBURGH JEWISH CHRONICLE REVIEW
June 16. 2005

Episode 4
AGENT EMES AND THE GIANT EGO

REVIEW

Support your local secret agent and you'll support lessons and fun rolled into one.

"Agent Emes and The Giant Ego," the fourth in the Agent Emes adventure series by Pittsburgh filmmaker Leibel Cohen, opens on June 19. Although primarily aimed at children, even teenagers and adults will catch themselves chuckling and eye rolling over the plentiful corny fun and special effects. It just can't be helped.

Cohen, committed to presenting Judaism in a positive light, keeps the subtle, humorous lines coming - even adults can appreciate a second viewing. Kids will enjoy repeated viewing for the entertainment. After all, how many young, Jewish secret agents are out there?

The plot again involves the nefarious Dr. Lo-Tov - Dr. No Good. Lo-Tov finds Passover particularly irksome - in fact, he hates it. "All this attention paid to a useless piece of deflated dough," he complains. 

Lo-Tov hatches a plan to "neutralize Jews," because without the "miserable mitzvah-doers," he could take over the world.

Emes - truth - is a secret agent braving the forces of evil. He is so good, he even stops to wait for the walk signal when chasing an evil-doer. There are subtle lessons everywhere, but young viewers won't even see them coming.

The filmmaker's son, Sholom Ber Cohen, plays Emes. Charming (he's too young to be dashing) 12-year-old Sholom switches characters - from yeshiva boy to secret agent - easily. But the best lines and lessons are reserved for Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, playing himself, or as Emes calls him, "Rabbi Dr. Twerski, M.D."

Twerski's lines are sometimes self-mocking, but good-natured. He is called upon to analyze an unnaturally lethargic Emes. "We have a clinical term for this. It's called laziness," he deadpans. If you've never heard of Dr. Twerski, you may wonder what makes that line so funny.

The story goes on to reveal the personality modifications - anger, pride, boastfulness and laziness - that Lo-Tov has masterminded. The ending involves matzah, but you'll just have to find out how on your own.

(Angela Leibowicz can be reached online at aleibowicz@pittchron.com.)

Matzah jokes will crack you up in latest 'Emes' sequel