Borat

Movie review by Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Borat Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Hilarious but raunchy mockumentary has sex, language.

R 2006 82 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 47 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 109 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Borat is a raunchy, vulgar, sometimes shocking, and often hilarious comedy. Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen uses the character of Borat to expose the effects of ignorance by targeting ignorant behavior. But this is absolutely not children's entertainment. Reporter Borat lampoons Americans' sexism, racism, homophobia, antisemitism, religious intolerance, classism, and ageism by putting people on the spot and peppering them with bold questions. The movie features mature content including an extended, explicit sequence of naked men wrestling; jokes about sex work, feminism, and marriage (a wife's death is celebrated); homophobic remarks; toilet humor (literally); and physical fighting. Distasteful jokes aimed at U.S. popular culture and beliefs include references to Baywatch, Michael Jackson, "Dirty Harold," Pentecostal church practices, Jews, rodeos and cowboys, etiquette, patriotic pride, hip-hop culture, and college fraternities. Language includes "f--k," "c--k," "s--t," "ass," "p---y," the "N" word, and more (some in subtitles).

Community Reviews

Apersonthatdoesstuff ..
Apersonthatdoesstuff .. Adult
March 8, 2021
age 12+

haha

Violence 2/5 Sex 5/5 Language 5/5 Drinking/Drugs/Smoking 2/5
1 person found this helpful.
Mike M.
Mike M. Adult
May 1, 2020
age 13+

Hilarious movie contains crude and potentially offensive humour.

Borat is a very funny but crude movie. It is a documentary-style film following a character named Borat, a journalist who travels from Kazakhstan to America. What makes this movie so hilarious is that the majority of people Borat interviews in the film are not in on the joke and think that Borat is a real journalist from Kazakhstan who wants to learn about life in America. Therefore, much of the humour unfolds in a sort of improvised and natural way. The movie contains a lot of gross humour which may be shocking or inappropriate to some. The movie includes a lot of foul language including F-bombs. There are references to sex and female reproductive parts, toilet humour with a focus on feces, a prostitute character with revealing clothes, Borat calls a man a “rapist,” and he even makes out with his sister. Borat pokes fun at different groups including feminists, Jews, Christians, and southerners. There is some non-sexual nudity, including a picture showing Borat’s son whose penis is on full display (this scene is pretty lengthy). Borat also physically attacks his travel companion in what is supposed to be a comical moment as they are both naked (their private areas are censored but their bare butts are visible). This is after Borat catches his friend masturbating to pictures of Pamela Anderson (the magazine covers the character’s crotch, although it is obvious what he is doing). Moreover, Borat watches a sex tape featuring Pamela Anderson but we don’t see the tape; we can only hear the audio. If you are easily offended, you may want to skip this film. However, I would recommend it for most people as it is quite a notorious movie with several laugh out loud moments. Teens will be able to handle Borat, no problem.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
See all 47 parent reviews

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 TV station. While almost everyone (real people) Borat 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. Borat interviews feminists (he laughs at their suggestion that women might be equal to men), talks to politicians Bob Barr and Alan Keyes (Borat makes a racist joke about Keyes), spends time 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). Borat repeatedly proclaims 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, Southern dining club members. Although the government of Kazakhstan has protested publicly against the character, Baron Cohen's fans (familiar with Borat's origins on Da Ali G Show) will appreciate Borat's comedy. Baron Cohen never breaks character, steadfastly maintaining the persona of an outspoken, misogynistic, homophobic, racist, antisemitic man.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the purpose of satire and deliberately offensive humor. Does Borat's mockery of ignorance and prejudice help the people he targets understand his point, or are they clueless victims of his humor? What point is the movie trying to make?

  • Ask your kids if they think viewers who identify with some of the intolerant or over-earnest people Borat interviews will see themselves in a new light. Or will they feel upset by the on-screen encounters?

  • Does satire help or simply entertain? How can you tell the difference? When can satire cross a line?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

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