Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Raunchy spoof has sex, drugs, language, stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ali G InDaHouse
What's the Story?
In ALI G INDAHOUSE, Ali (actually "Alistair Graham," played by Sacha Baron Cohen) is a guy who styles himself a trendy rapper/club MC, speaks in a West Indian patois, and acts like his world is full of gangs, guns, and hip-hop. No, he's not in South Central L.A.: He lives in Staines, a sleepy suburb outside of London, a place more like Wallace & Gromit's 'hood. One of Ali G's passions (besides sex, marijuana, and silly turf battles with rival posses) is a small rec center, where he mentors little kids not to be Boyz-N-the-Hood casualties. When the government cuts funds to the center, Ali G stages a protest outside the Houses of Parliament. This gets him noticed by the scheming Deputy Prime Minister (Charles Dance), who decides that Ali is the biggest idiot ever and then uses that to his advantage, guessing that if Ali G went into politics, the government would collapse from embarrassment and scandal, and the Deputy PM could take over. But once elected, Ali G and his "keepin' it real" policies (e.g., only admitting immigrants he deems attractive and using drug deals as classroom math lessons) prove amazingly popular instead.
Is It Any Good?
Those who enjoy the Ali G character from Da Ali G Show might get some laughs out of this feature-length film. Comic actor Baron Cohen created the character of Ali G as a takeoff on Black rap/hip-hop culture, and Ali G InDaHouse is full of the same boundary-pushing humor as the show.
Here, the narrative is familiar: An uninhibited, overgrown kid prevails over stuffy authority-figure villains from higher social classes. Cohen's comic timing is razor-sharp, and nothing's to be taken seriously. But, while the plot doesn't necessarily drag, it also takes its time and shows that Ali G works best in half-hour doses. Furthermore, the obscene language, toilet humor, and sex and drug fantasies are full-on throughout, and the "satire" only really serves to reinforce stereotypes rather than challenge them in any way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the romanticizing of gang culture in Ali G InDaHouse. What do young people get from pretending they live in these environments? Is it different from older generations pretending to be gunslinger cowboys as kids? Why, or why not?
What stereotypes are present in the movie? How does it portray women? Why is it important to challenge stereotypes in the media?
How does this compare to the Ali G TV show? Do you think it works as well in a longer format? Why, or why not?
How does Ali G compare to Sacha Baron Cohen's other characters, such as Borat and Brüno? Why are the characters appealing? Do you think the humor goes too far at times? Where should the line be drawn?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 22, 2002
- On DVD or streaming : November 2, 2004
- Cast : Michael Gambon , Rhona Mitra , Sacha Baron Cohen
- Director : Mark Mylod
- Studio : Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong sexual content, pervasive crude humor, language and drug content.
- Last updated : November 4, 2026
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