Review: "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm" is Another Rib-Tickler from a Comedy Master

Scene from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

With the release of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Sacha Baron Cohen proves something quite impressive: he is ageless. It has been 14 years since he first brought the character to the big screen and revolutionized comedy with his blend of interrogative fiction. It was unlike anything else, and even revisiting it all of these years later reflects a fascinating yet damning exploration of the Mid-2000s, when War on Terrorism paranoia was at its highest and everyone, no matter how innocent, couldn't escape some memorable reaction to his wild behavior, revealing small ways that America has certain biases that they may be too ashamed to admit.

Cut to 2020, and one thing feels true. Even if Borat hasn't changed, everyone else has. We're living in a time where the question of fact and fiction are more confusing than ever. The Coronavirus has divided the nation, and the idea of prank videos have only gotten worse since the rise of YouTube and various other platforms. The world is catching up, and it raises a certain question about this abrupt sequel: is there a reason for Cohen to pull his most beloved character out of storage, doing his best to tear apart our reality to understand a truth that nobody agrees on? The results are mixed as a result, though what makes this outing worth checking out is the fictional story underneath, a heartwarming yet perverted father/daughter story that comes to symbolize America's own views on feminism. It's not that Borat has grown irrelevant. It's just that, like most of us, his personal fantasy is more compelling than reality. 

Sacha Baron Cohen is Back in "Borat 2" Trailer and Ready for More Laughter

Well, well, well... one has to wonder how we got here. Over the past decade, it became clearer that Sacha Baron Cohen wasn't going to make a comeback to his guerrilla-style approach to comedy. It was becoming unsustainable, with everyone expecting him to show up and do something wacky. However, the past few years have been a pleasant surprise, as his lackluster TV show Who Is America? found him trying to add humor to these divided times. However, nobody could've expected what came next. Considering that he remains one of the biggest icons in 21st-century comedy history, the idea of a Borat sequel was unfathomable.

And yet, here we are. Not only was it announced this week that a movie was on the way, but it's less than a month away. It's the type of action that would make fans yell "Jagshemash!" and wonder what the beloved character has to say about the current times. From the looks of the trailer, very little has changed as far as his absurd and spry approach to social commentary. Only the names and events have changed, and it looks to be a good time. The question is if this will live up to the original, bringing with it a timeless look into a time that's maybe best ridiculed. If nothing else, there are more than a few good jokes here to offer that hope.

After 10 Years, "Borat" is Still a Very Nice Film

Sacha Baron Cohen

In the 21st century, has there ever been a phenomenon quite like Borat? Yes, there are many comedians who do excellent work while pranking audiences in costume, but think of the cultural impact that just one comic creation had. It was the second spin-off movie from Sacha Baron Cohen's Da Ali G Show series, which focused on Kazakhstan journalist Borat Sagdiyev as he explored the great country of America. Part of the joke can be found in the entire title, which is actually Borat: Cultural Learnings of America to Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazahkstan. Yes, part of the joke was in Borat's (played by Cohen) broken English. However, it would be a definitive, ground breaking mockumentary meant to explore America's real feelings on touchy subjects. It's hilarious and 10 years later is still among the sharpest comedies ever.

Birthday Take: Sacha Baron Cohen in "Borat" (2006)

Scene from Borat

Welcome to The Birthday Take, a column dedicated to celebrating Oscar nominees and winners' birthdays by paying tribute to the work that got them noticed. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive retrospective, but more of a highlight of one nominated work that makes them noteworthy. The column will run whenever there is a birthday and will hopefully give a dense exploration of the finest performances and techniques applied to film. So please join me as we blow out the candles and dig into the delicious substance.

Can "The World's End" Do the Sci-Fi Comedy Category Justice at the Oscars?

Top to Bottom: Paddy Considine, Simon Pegg, and Martin Freeman

There is this weird disconnect between Academy Awards and comedy that seems unfair. While it has improved slightly in the past decade, stories that deal with less conventional methods are most likely reduced to little or no awareness at all. Even with director Edgar Wright's latest film The World's End planning to hit the scene in America this Friday, there is little chance that it could break the mold and become one of the first British comedies not named Four Weddings and a Funeral or The Full Monty to get into the Best Picture race. Of course, summer blockbusters in general don't stand a chance, though they seem more forgiving in the Best Original Screenplay categories.