Review of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) by Aarons — 04 Nov 2006

I honestly haven't laughed this hard at a movie since the South Park film. You definitely have to check the P.C. attitude in at the door before you see this one. I would think you would really have to have absolutely no sense of humor to not understand what exactly Cohen is up to with this film.

'Borat' is really quite an ingenious comedy. It's very stupid as all get out. And yet it's also very, very smart. There are moments in here that are both laugh out loud funny and then frightening as hell.

As funny as this movie is, Cohen and co. really paint a painfully ugly portrait of American culture. The hypocrisy, racism, sexism, jingoism and homophobia on display are unsettling. And at the same time, just as you're cringing with embarrassment or disgust, you start to laugh.

'Funniest movie ever'? I doubt it, but it's on a short list of candidates. I know I pretty much laughed the entire 80 mins. of its running time. Oh, that hotel wrestling scene!!!!! It's one of the best movies of the year.