Granted, many of these premises have been exhibited on Da Ali G Show, so Co
hen is recycling his material, but they work wonderfully in the context of the film and, even if you have seen them before, they are still funny. Cohen adds to what was done before so that the hoaxes are now more elaborate. There are moments in the film that are beyond offensive and must be seen in a packed theater (preferably with college students) where everyone howls and claps at the same time. Kudos go to Cohen and company for going all out.
On their own, the skits are hilarious and superbly played out. On the whole, the film ser
ves as a strange social commentary on how absurd we Americans can be. Cohen's comedy not only makes us laugh, but also makes us think. For example, when a prostitute shows up at a stately home, Borat and his companion are ordered to leave immediately. Similar things happen at the rodeo. It shows us that in the land of the free, not quite everything is free, and certainly not quite everything is acceptable. Cohen is able to make these observations from the eyes of a foreigner (albeit an idiot), and the notion of looking at ourselves carries a serious undertone on top of all the raun
chiness. Borat himself is a racial caricature, and the inherent racism and sexism in his character as well as the reactions he conjures really open our eyes. So, while we laugh our asses off we understand what Borat is really about. By telling the truth through his adventures, Borat gives Cohen, et. al., a comedic power that is beyond measure.
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Luenell, Pamela Anderson
Director: Larry Charles
Writers: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Peter Baynham, Dan Mazer, Todd Phillips
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive crude content including graphic nudity, language
Running Time: 84 minutes
Ratings:
Script – 7
Performance – 8
Direction – 7
Cinematography – 7
Music/Sound– 8
Editing – 8
Production – 8
Total – 7.8 out of 10
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