Borat

What’s the Story?

Borrowing from Andy Kaufman, John Waters, and Steve-O, BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN is a faux documentary that tracks the cross-country antics of Kazakh TV reporter Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen). Borat and his hairy, camera-shy producer Azamat (Ken Davitian) are sent to America to learn about "the glorious country U, S, and A" and make a documentary for their local Kazakh TV station. While almost everyone (real people, not actors) he meets on the way goes along with his contorted language and vulgar behavior, it's not always easy to tell where their awareness begins and ends. Some appear to wholly buy his routine (a loudly homophobic and patriotic cowboy advises him to shave off his mustache so he doesn't look like a "terrorist"), but most seem at least vaguely conscious of his strangeness ... and the possibility that he and his unseen camera crew have ulterior motives. Still, they know about reality TV, so they imagine they understand -- or might control -- the humiliation of their encounters with Borat. Not so much. Borat interviews stern-faced "feminists" (laughing at their suggestion that women might be equal to men), talks to politicians Bob Barr and Alan Keyes (a genuine "chocolate face," Borat marvels), cavorts with Gay Pride revelers (with whom he drinks, showers, and spends the night) and Pentecostal churchgoers (where his behavior is, suddenly, the least outrageous in the room). And he proclaims repeatedly his love for all things American. A rodeo audience goes along when he lauds "America's war of terror" ("May George Bush drink the blood of every man, woman, and child in Iraq"), but ultimately becomes uncomfortable when he hijacks the U.S. national anthem in order to praise Kazakhstan.

Is It Any Good?

Director Larry Charles' movie is less innovative and subversive than it is observant, but it does show that laughing at ignorance constitutes its own kind of bliss. The case might be made that Borat picks (on) easy targets: frat boys, rodeo cowboys, hotel desk clerks, smug Southern dining club members. Although the government of Kazakhstan has protested publicly against the character, Baron Cohen's fans (familiar with his origins on Da Ali G Show) appreciate Borat's gotcha comedy. Baron Cohen never breaks character, maintaining the persona of an outspoken, misogynistic, anti-Semitic manchild who -- while shopping for a vehicle with which he can "kill gypsies" -- announces cheerfully that he bought his wife when she was 12.