Actually
the full title of the film is Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit
Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (say that five times fast) and it's quite simply
the funniest film of the year. In fact, I don't think there will be a funnier
movie in 2006 (perhaps Talladega Nights, but I doubt it). There have been other
flicks in the past few months that made me laugh (Thank You For Smoking is a top
fiver if ever there was one) but in terms of sheer hilarity, nothing touches Borat.
I laughed so hard during the first half of this insane road trip movie, that I
nearly fainted from exhaustion.
Firstly,
I'd like to comment on the title of the movie. The film is being referred to as
simply Borat, but the entire title–Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For
Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan-- is more appropriate because it speaks
1000 words.
Borat
Sagdiyev (Sasha Baron Cohen) is the title character, a sort of dimwitted representative
of Kazakhstan with the libido of a rabbit. Faster than you can say Crocodile Dundee,
Borat, along with fellow countryman Azamat Bagatov (Ken Davitian), makes the long
journey to the United States where he hopes to document average Americans in their
vast habitat. With this useful information, he hopes to return to his native land
with many helpful pointers that will better the lifestyle of his countrymen. Hence
the long version of the title.
Those
who think this picture is simply making fun of foreigners are missing the point
altogether. The movie is really making fun of us. No, that's not even an accurate
assessment. Actually, Borat pushes our buttons in a way that brings out our true
colors. He's like human litmus paper capable of revealing our underlying nature.
Very seldom do we get side splitting comedies that are so laced with social commentary,
and that's one of the things I love about this movie. Mostly though, I loved it
because it made me laugh my fucking ass off! The Boneman claims that he pissed
blood for two days afterward. He thinks he might have ruptured something.
Sasha
Baron Cohen (known to many as the zany Ali G) is a comedic force to be reckoned
with in this film. He's simply fearless. He'll do absolutely anything to get the
laugh. This includes rolling around naked with the rather large Ken Davitian in
what is perhaps the most nauseating, audacious, hilarious sequences in comedy
history. What's more, a funny thing happens in Borat. By the end of the picture,
I found this clueless man-child kind of endearing – something I never thought
would happen upon viewing the first reel.
Larry
Charles, who has worked in many capacities on Seinfeld, Entourage, and also penned
the puzzling and inscrutable "Masked and Anonymous," directs with the
same sort of kinetic energy that Cohen acts with. Much of the picture is shot
in documentary style, and Charles himself claims that most of Borat's encounters
with Americans generate actual responses. This is to say that most of the folks
Borat comes into contact with, have no idea they're being filmed and that very
few of the scenes were staged. This lends a surprisingly edgy quality to the film.
Take for instance, the scene where Borat tries to purchase a gun. While chatting
with the owner of the shop, Borat asks if he could shoot a Jew with the weapon
and the merchant's response is . . . rather revealing. Many will no doubt find
such banter offensive, but it's also incredibly eye opening. Borat can certainly
be considered a scathing indictment of soul of the average American. Then again
the film is obviously edited toward this bias, mainly because it's simply hysterical.
Whether or not these really are actual responses or just merely scripted, the
film gets it's point across loud and clear. It's a cynical, in-your-face experience
laced with laugh out loud comedy.
Borat
has a slew of comic talent behind the scenes; including Larry Charles, Jay Roach
(Austin Powers), Todd Phillips (Old School), and Anthony Hines (Da Ali G Show),
and while some might argue that too many chefs spoil the soup, I say the more
the merrier. Particularly if the end result is going to be something this damn
funny. Like the works of Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park, Team America),
Borat refuses to be PC. It's edgy, go for broke, irreverent, improvisational comedy
at it's very finest. And what Borat lacks in plot it more than makes up for in
side splitting hilarity. Clearly, this movie isn't for everyone. It will, no doubt,
offend a shit load of people, but if you're able to sit back and not take things
so seriously, you'll laugh your ass completely off - just like I did.
