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BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT THE GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN (2006) (***1/2)

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Much press has been given to this film saying that it just might be the funniest movie ever made. Oh, it’s funny all right, but not the funniest ever.

In the film, British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (TV’s DA ALI G SHOW) plays his naïve Kazakhstani reporter character Borat Sagdiyev. He has been commissioned by his government to travel to the U.S. and make a documentary about its culture for the benefit of his nation. Accompanying him is his overweight producer Azamat Bagatov (Ken Davitian, S.W.A.T.).

Cohen’s style of comedy is guerilla style like CANDID CAMERA with more savage smarts and a mean streak. Andy Kaufman is smiling in comic heaven right now. Some of the episodes are staged, but mostly Cohen as Borat just ambushes unsuspecting people.

In the process, he makes us think about how the rest of the world views America and how stereotypes and racism still exists in many parts of the country. The loose plotline for the film is just a framework to hold the various segments, which range from hilarious to poignant to outrageous. Some people will most certainly find some parts offensive.

The main key to the film’s success is Cohen. He is fearless and his skill to commit himself 100% to his character without breaking character is amazing. How he doesn’t laugh during interviews is amazing.

His Borat character has a very innocent racism that stems from ignorance rather than maliciousness. In his fictionalized version of Kazakhstan culture, women are not allowed to drive cars and scientists have proven that the female brain is the size of a squirrel. These beliefs don’t sit well when he interviews the real life representatives of a national feminist organization. He also believes that Jews have horns and are the root of all evil. His reaction to finding out that the bed and breakfast he is staying is run by Jews is priceless. Mainly, Borat’s beliefs are opposite to what most Americans believe… or are they?

Borat interviews many people that don’t even flinch at his racism and anti-Semitism. When he asks a gun shop owner what is the best gun to kill a Jew, the owner has no qualms pointing one out to him. The opinions of a rodeo organizer will make many cringe with the sheer ignorance of it all.

Going back to Cohen’s guts, he butchers the national anthem at the rodeo, walks right up to a group of gambling African American young men on the street and asks them to teach him to be more like them, tries to give a welcome kiss to strangers on the NYC subway, invites a prostitute to a formal dinner and wrestles naked throughout a hotel. At times we feel bad for the people Borat makes uncomfortable and at others times we feel the people deserve it. Sometimes you don’t know who comes out looking worse — Kazakhstan or the U.S.

Some jokes fall flat, but for the most part the film is laugh out loud funny. The short running time is perfect, because any more would have worn out Borat's welcome. We laugh at some of the more audacious moments, because we don’t know how else to react. I’m curious to see how the film holds up on future viewings, but the first time is most likely going to the be the best. It’s niiiiiiice.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks