MOVIE REVIEW: Borat learns an American movie tradition, not meeting expectations
Although this film generated a glorious $26 million at the box office during its opening weekend, “Borat” is not that deserving of such a complimenting adjective (I mean glorious).
Sacha Baron Cohen (“Talladega Nights”) plays Borat, a TV journalist from Kazakhstan who is sent to the U.S. to report on what makes our nation so amazing. With no prior exposure to our diverse country, he flies here with his crusty producer (Ken Davitian, “Stone & Ed”) and anonymous camera crew to learn the culture and meet the people. And meet them he does.
Borat interviews a large variety of Americans, including a humor expert, driving instructor and feminist group. But the differences in language, government and societal mores prove to be too vast for Borat to successfully bond with the American people.
Plans change for Borat and his reporting adventure when he stumbles upon “Baywatch” in his hotel bedroom and immediately falls in love with Pamela Anderson. Borat then turns his journalist assignment into a passionate quest to find Pamela and marry her.
This quest allows Borat to meet many other American people, such as frisky homosexuals, tough cowboys, Pentecostal worshippers and a rural prostitute.
Cohen does an amazing job playing a na’ve, hopeful foreigner willing to learn everything he can about the country he idolizes. He also does an amazing job making all his interviewees feel incredibly uncomfortable and offended. Borat gives so many shocking punch lines that it’s impossible to ignore the film’s brazen treatment or irreverent humor. Indeed, it is thicker than Borat’s bristly moustache.
Certain scenes are worked nicely with spotless line delivery and a perfect sense of realism. The realism is mostly due to the fact that a lot of the people in this film are real people, not actors playing a role (or at least they seem to be).
This film revels in its opportunity to be crude and politically incorrect (almost every single joke deals with sex, prejudices, language, bathrooms or body parts), so it’s best suited for viewers who enjoy this kind of comedy. But it doesn’t matter if “Borat” is not your style. Nobody will be impervious to laughter during this film.
Sadly, “Borat” could have been more winning in its funniness if it wasn’t so relentless. It remains so brash that it becomes overbearing toward the end. And you can’t laugh very well when the humor is smothering you.
Other critics have proclaimed that “You’ll laugh ’til it hurts,” watching this film. But the only hurting I felt was the dreadful awkwardness waiting for the film to end.
Directed by Larry Charles (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) and co-written by Cohen and Anthony Hines (“Da Ali G Show”), “Borat” is a good example of a derisive, dark comedy. It is also a good example of going too far for the sake of getting laughs.
Cohen is commanding through his consistent accent and quick timing; he contributes great enthusiasm to the film. But in reaching for the stars, the film simply becomes too much.
Casey T. Allen is the movie critic for the Utah Statesman. Comments can be sent to him at caseyal@cc.usu.edu.