A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Date Viewed: 11/24/06

Details:

Sacha Baron Cohen

Ken Davitian

...and a cast of tens of "normal" (?) Americans

Director: Larry Charles

Screenplay & co-produced by: Sacha Baron Cohen

Score: 0

The Review: Outrageous, over-the-top satire in the spirit of Tom & Jerry, Wylie Coyote, Bugs Bunny and Candid Camera -- enjoyment of the pratfalls and embarrassment of others. Not for all tastes.

Mockumentary by a fictional Kazakh TV reporter Borat (Cohen) as he and his producer (Davitian) wander across America in search of... -- well, it's not clear there's any motivation here other than humiliation, encouragement of insensitivity and wallowing in political incorrectness, all of which they do very well. And while it is not entirely wit-challenged -- there is some humor, indeed a few hilarious scenes (e.g., the "guard animal") -- its cleverness disappears rapidly under a sophomoric flurry of excrement, skin, and loads of cultural, racial and sexual insults the like of which you'll seldom see on screen. If you enjoyed Beavis and Butthead, Jackass (I didn't bother with either) or The Aristocrats (I did, sort of) then you'll likely enjoy this. Some have said (harkening back to the admonitions of the 60's) that anyone over the age of 35 will not "get it." Not only will I debate that statement, but I would also claim that it's possible to "get it" and still not find it consistently entertaining. Silly, more silly, even extremely silly -- with a peculiar sense of geography.

And a disturbing ability to catalyze what appear to be otherwise normal middle-Americans to share (or create) thoughts of which they should not be proud. If you follow the intent of this film, in which the many characters are speaking their own minds even if presented with outrageous instigation, I doubt it's always the alcohol (or adrenaline) speaking, and I'm concerned because of that. It's difficult to find anything funny in gay bashing, misogyny or anti-Semitism -- except to groan in secondhand embarrassment that some of those filmed may actually believe what they're saying. If you think this constitutes humor or satire, so be it; I'm not so sure. It's hard to blame the catalyst for the reaction, but you wonder what role should be played by, or blamed on, the reactants.

(24-Nov-06)

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