By Katherine Mueller
Staff Writer
After more than a decade, Sacha Baron Cohen is back in action as Borat in “Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm,” though this time audiences will not only be stupefied by outrageous comedy.
In contrast to the 2006 shocker, “Borat,” this “Subsequent Moviefilm” is notably set in a more progressive light. The film emphasizes feminism and family, especially with its exceptional and hilarious female lead Maria Bakalova, while still adeptly using plenty of deplorably entertaining humor to draw the audience in.
Though the film never bears a dull moment, it is not as memorable or simplistically charming as that of the infamous original. As expected, the film additionally comes with heaps of inaccurate cultural representation, though the movie still remains relatively timely.
Directed by Jason Woliner, “Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm” is the sequel to the hilariously unlawful mockumentary “Borat,” created by actor, comedian and writer Cohen. The two films follow Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev as he travels through the United States, wreaking havoc on all of the country’s citizens.
In this sequel, Borat is called on by the government of Kazakhstan to return to America 14 years after his disgraceful documentary on the country. However, this time, in order to bring glory back to Kazakhstan, he must deliver his unbeknownst 15-year-old daughter to the American government, and more specifically, to Vice President Mike Pence.
Naturally, the journey to achieve this goal includes main characters Borat, played by Cohen, and his daughter, Tutar Sagdiyev, played by Bakalova. Along the way, they find themselves caught in hilariously curious and misconstrued situations. What makes the movie even more wild is that it is filmed almost entirely in the mockumentary style, adding many unique aspects to the film.
Almost the entire film uses authentic footage of real-life events and with non-actor participants. This gives the movie a gratifying intimacy and realistic feel to it, though it does cause some nail-biting moments. Additionally, it allows for some particularly remarkable yet suspicious moments, with several high-profile political figures.
During several scenes, Borat and his daughter make rather distressing contact with various American political figures. From crashing a Pence rally to holding a staged interview with politician Rudy Giuliani, the film offers a more unfiltered view of these politicians that is free for interpretation.
One of the best aspects of the film is Cohen’s co-star, Bulgarian actress Bakalova. Bakalova’s performance as Tutar Sagdiyev is hysterical, but also impactful. Her character’s evolution throughout the film shows the importance of female confidence and independence, shown as she disassociates herself from her sexist and misguided adolescent education.
At several moments throughout the film, viewers see examples of bigotry in America and in many of its right-wing members, which is frightening as much as it is strikingly informal and interesting to watch. This was a staple to the previous film as well, but this time it gives a greater impact due to the presence of COVID-19 in the U.S. and all the country’s non-believers.
The comedic style of the film involves a lot of offensive humor directed at various minorities and ethnic groups, including Jewish and Kazakh people. In order to take pleasure in the film’s humor, viewers must acknowledge that the humor is completely non-exemplary as a behavioral standard. Additionally, many of these uncomfortable situations end in resolution, giving a hopefulness to the film.
The film is a sequel, so inherently it does not have the same unique spark as the first. However, the film keeps viewers in the present with its incorporation of COVID-19 into the script. The film ends up twisting the inclusion of the pandemic in a tragically hilarious way, letting viewers feel more in, the admittedly non-ideal, moment.
Overall, the movie highlights the importance of family and equality while adding a pleasing layer of good-heartedness to the film. If viewers are looking for a film that will make them laugh, warm their soul and also slightly horrify them, then “Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm” is a great option. The film is great for a wide variety of audiences.
Released to platforms on Oct. 23, the “Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm” is available for viewing on Amazon Prime Video and is rated R.
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