Movie Review: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)

From the demented mind of Sacha Baron Cohen comes some remarkable characters like Ali G. (a wannabe gangsta), Brüno (a flamboyant faggot) and, of course Borat — a sexist, anti-Semite from Kazakhstan. The genius of these characters is the ability to allow Cohen to poke fun at, while “seriously” interviewing, people of all responsibilities (politicians, lawyers, homemakers, etc.). In this first full length movie of one of his characters, Cohen creates a mockumentary which has Borat traveling the USA in an a effort to bring back with him, the ways of the greatest country. Sprinkled throughout the movie, while traveling to California to meet Pam Anderson and expand his knowledge, are typical interviews with people who have no idea the joke is really on them.

As expected, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (the only time the film will be addressed by its full title) doesn’t stray far from the bread and butter of the “Da Ali G Show” (where all three characters are portrayed). Borat finds himself like a fish out of water in all the cities he finds himself in. From chasing people in New York while trying to introduce himself, to inviting a whore to a formal Southern dinner — Borat makes a complete ass of himself and all those around him.

There really isn’t much else to say about the movie. It is fucking funny. It is original (provided you’ve never seen his BBC show). There are moments of complete laugh-out-loud insanity — trying to actually bag Pam Anderson at a book signing is brilliant! And of course there a few parts that are slow and don’t offer much to the movie — buying a bear for protection is asinine and the payoff with scaring kids at an ice cream truck wasn’t worth it.

Verdict? Unless you are evangelistic, hard-nosed, right-wing conservative who can’t laugh at himself or his country, I strongly recommend seeing Borat. I then strongly recommend that you watch it again for all the small nuances you missed the first time around (pay attention to his speech at the rodeo). If you are a evangelistic, hard-nosed, right-wing conservative who can’t laugh at himself or his country, please shoot yourself. The world is better off without you.