Movie Review: ‘Borat’ breaks box office gold

By: Chris Fort
Contributing Wirter

When heading to the theatres to see “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” (a title every bit as ridiculous as it sounds), I was a bit skeptical about how good it was actually going to be seeing as how the movie is based off a comedic TV show. I mean, does anyone remember Tim Meadows’ “SNL”-based atrocity “The Ladies’ Man”? But Borat is not your average, run-of-the-mill movie spin-off; it’s an exceptionally entertaining and intelligent film, despite the utter ridiculousness packed into the 84 minute run time.

“Borat,” the “Spinal Tap” of the 21st century, revolves around Sacha Baron Cohen’s delightfully oafish character from his Great Britain-based satire “Da Ali G Show.” Borat, a Kazakhstani reporter who prides himself on his sister being named the fourth-best prostitute in all the land, is also an extremely patriotic citizen. He ventures to the shores of America to make a documentary in hopes that it will cure the social ills troubling his beloved homeland.

Like his show, Cohen is responsible for all the laughs. His outlandish and eccentric nature, coupled with his impromptu skills, make for a series of candid moments that are outright hilarious. There is no shortage of laughs up the sumptuous sleeve of Borat’s ugly, gray suit. Once in America, he becomes infatuated with Pamela Anderson and spends the rest of the movie journeying across the U.S., with his producer Azamat and his protective bear, to make the former “Baywatch” star his bride. Along the way, the naïve yet jovial Borat exposes many of the hidden prejudices against minorities which still linger today in modern America.

In Virginia, Borat sings a faux Kazakhstani national anthem after expressing his empathy with the audience over America’s war in Iraq. “May George Bush drink the blood of every man, woman, and child in Iraq!” he exclaims to an assortment of boos and a disturbing number of cheers. Once in the South, Borat enjoys a dinner party to practice etiquette with wealthy Alabamans who live on Secession Drive. I’ll leave it up to you to imagine what happens from there.

While most people will love “Borat,” it’s still not for everyone. The movie pokes fun at a lot people, particularly those residing in America’s heartland. However, despite the outcry of a few special-interest groups, “Borat” is not an anti-Semitic film. All jokes about minorities in the movie are designed to illustrate the apprehensive stereotypes we have installed inside our heads. Cohen, a Jewish man himself, recognizes these and exploits them to create some rather hysterical, if even a little bit uncomfortable, moments.

Borat was to be directed by Todd Phillips, who is known for delivering the raucous box office hit “Old School,” but dropped out after creative differences arose with Cohen. In his place the film was steered by Larry Charles; a good fit considering his work on the hit comedy series “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Together, Charles and Cohen team to create undoubtedly the funniest movie of 2006. There wasn’t a single segment of the movie that didn’t leave me hurting after laughing so hard. Do yourself a favor and spend the six dollars to see “Borat.” It’s worth every penny.