Mutant Reviewers from Hell do
"High-five!"

2006 R / Comedy Mockumentary Directed by: Larry Charles Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Pamela Anderson

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Summary Capsule

Fake journalist from a foreign nation arrives in the U.S. to do a report on All Things Respectable. And also, to wed Pamela Anderson.

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Justin's Rating: Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium. Other countries have inferior potassium. Darn tootin'!
Justin's Review: Humor can be, and often is, a weapon. If you ever take the time to really sit down and dissect different types of humor — MRFH suggests traffic light stops and frequent, unannounced bathroom breaks during a keynote speech for this purpose — then you might have to work hard to think of humor that in no way offends, attacks or demeans someone else (fictional or real). Humor can be a cruel weapon used to rip into another person's self-esteem; in fact, that skill is what we often laud most movie comedy stars of demonstrating. If there's a group of people or an organization that we don't like, yet it'd be "racist" or "offensive" for us to outright bash, then humor becomes the refuge for our darker natures. However, humor can also be used to reverse prejudices by creating a more extreme version of a common problem, which makes the audience laugh at the wrongness of the humor being executed, instead of the humor's target itself.

"It also made me laugh so hard that, at times, my body forgot to breathe and the paramedics had to intervene."

Gah. I have no idea what I'm writing anyway. It's 9:36 in the morning and my hand's been thrashing about looking for a nonexistent cup of coffee for a good half-hour now.

In any case, the biggest question I had to ask myself was, "Is it okay to be laughing while watching Borat?"

Sacha Baron Cohen's breakout movie hit is steeped in controversy, alleged racism, outright bannings, and potential fraud or libel. It also made me laugh so hard that, at times, my body forgot to breathe and the paramedics had to intervene. It's a movie where humor is an incredibly deadly weapon, one which might be pointed at ourselves if we're not careful.

Borat (Cohen) is a fictional TV reporter from the somewhat fictional country of Kazakhstan. His charming broken English and happily ignorant demeanor are countered by terrible flaws of character: he's anti-women, anti-Semitic, anti-Gypsy, and impossibly clueless about social niceties. With only a couple of other actual actors, Cohen "travels" to America to expose Borat to our country… and see what the country exposes to him. In progressively outrageous scenes, Borat meets with feminists, takes driving lessons, rents a bear for "defense against the Jews", and goes on a country-wide quest to make Pamela Anderson his wife. With very few exceptions, everyone else in the film is under the impression that Borat is a real journalist from a foreign country, and there's a safe sort of humor in watching Cohen come up with completely ridiculous things to say and do, while watching these clueless folk trying to respond. Allegedly, the police were called about 91 times in the making of this movie, if that gives you any idea of what mischief Borat gets into.

Apart from being a goofy, bizarre foreigner who thinks nothing of letting a chicken run loose in a NYC subway car, Borat springs cheerful tirades of racist or offensive remarks when you're least expecting them. The shocking part of the film is when other people, like a nasty rodeo owner or a trio of drunken frat boys, respond in kind — but only completely serious. Skillfully twisting the knife, Cohen gives us a bit of a lesson, as we find ourselves laughing at silly ol' Borat… but then sit there in mild revulsion as the real people say pretty much the same thing. Our humanity is tested: either you laugh at Borat because his bigotry is pathetic, or you laugh with Borat because you agree with him and feel like someone's at least saying it like it is.

To be fair, like any documentary — real or fake — we know that the filmmakers manipulate the audience to see and feel what they want them to. Borat's been accused of being anti-American in spirit, electing to only show the worst reactions of the worst people they encounter. I don't agree with that. Borat also tests some of the nicest people and finds them worthy; a Jewish bed and breakfast couple, a Southern dinner party and a Pentecostal revival are all mocked by Borat's visit, yet they aquit themselves through their acceptance and patience with someone sent to test them of just that. I'm also sure that a few of the more negative reactions were tricked out of the participants — perhaps they just voiced something that dwelt deep down inside of them, or perhaps they were caught up in the mob mentality (such as when the rodeo crowd did a half-hearted cheer when Borat yells for the death of every man, woman and child in Iraq). I'm not here to be an apologeticist for the actions and statements of others, but words do need to be said about the tricky nature of documentaries.

While threads of Borat's racism and misogyny run through the film, they happily don't account for the whole movie. I'm glad, because there is a real danger of the producers being too eager to expose the nastier side of people that they forget that the audience just wants to have a good time, too. While it begins to drag toward the last third of the film, Borat is an absolute scream on several occasions. Cohen does a terrific job making Borat into a lovable goof who can get us giggling with his mere body stances and eye bulges.

Many people accuse Americans as being as racist or anti-foreigners as any other country, and those people might take Borat to use as proof. But I know that while mean people exist both here and abroad who have no problems with agreeing with Borat's corrupted nature, I know that it's just as much of a stereotype to label an entire country as anti-anything. Movies like Borat use humor as a not-so-gentle prod into reexamining our internal beliefs and prejudices, and to ask ourselves what we're really laughing at here.

Bear Buddy: your newest traveling companion! "I can make noise like goose, see?" Justin gets an early start to his day.

Didja Notice? [some sources: IMDb]

• The Kazakhstan anthem!
• Bears = great ice cream truck security
• Borat and his wife were half-siblings (as explained when he meets Pamela Anderson)
• When Azamat opens the fridge at his apartment in Hollywood you can see the head of their bear.

Is It Worth Staying Through End Credits?

Definitely — all stand for National anthem!

Intermission! [some sources: IMDb]

When Sacha Baron Cohen speaks Kazakh it is mostly Hebrew disguised by a heavy fake Eastern European accent. The Hebrew is quite understandable and contains many in-jokes.

The police were called on Sacha Baron Cohen 91 times during the production of this film.

This film was originally to be directed by Todd Phillips. But creative differences between Phillips and Sacha Baron Cohen prompted Phillips to drop out of the project. Phillips left the production after shooting the rodeo/"Star Spangled Banner" scene.

Borat is based on a Russian doctor Sacha Baron Cohen once met. He said the doctor was completely hilarious, but it was unintentional.

The character of Borat originated as short pieces on the British TV show Da Ali G Show. With the exception of Borat, Azamat, Luenell and Pamela Anderson, none of the characters are portrayed by actors. In most cases the film's participants were given no warning on what they would be taking part in except for being asked to sign release forms agreeing not to take legal action against the film's producers.

Cohen caused a near riot in what would ultimately be the rodeo scene in the final cut of the film.

Groovy Quotes

Borat: My country send me to United States to make movie-film. Please, come and see my film. If it not success, I will be execute.

Borat: [while driving] Look, there is a woman in a car! Can we follow her and maybe make a sexy time with her?
Driving Instructor: No, no, no, no, no, no!
Borat: A-why not?
Driving Instructor: Because a woman has the right to choose who she has sex with.
Borat: [stunned] WHAT...? You joke?
Driving Instructor: It must be consensual. How 'bout that?
Borat: [turns to Instructor, pauses] Ahahahahaha!
Driving Instructor: That's good, huh?
Borat: [pause] Is not good for me.

Borat: [to American Audience] We support your war of terror.

Azamat: What's in California?
Borat: Pearl Harbor is there. So is Texas.

Borat: What kind of dog is this?
Zookeeper: It's a tortoise.
Borat: Is it a cat in a hat?
Zookeeper: No... it's a tortoise in a shell.

Borat: Dis my mother. She oldest in village. She 45!

Borat: I arrived in America's airport with clothings, US dollars, and a jar of gypsy tears to protect me from AIDS.

Borat: I loves the Pamela Andersons.

Borat: I get iPod, he only get iPod Mini. Everybody know it for girls!

Borat: I like to make sexy time!

Borat: This is Urkin, the town rapist. Naughty, naughty!

Borat: Jak sie masz? My name-a Borat. I like you. I like sex. Is nice!

Borat: High-five!

Borat: This is Natalya. [He kisses her passionately] She is my sister. She is number-four prostitute in whole of Kazakhstan. [She holds up a trophy and smiles] Niiice!

If you liked this movie, try these:

• This Is Spinal Tap
• Ali G Indahouse