Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Directed by Larry Charles, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan follows Kazakhstani journalist Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen) as he and his producer Azamat (Ken Davitian) travel to the United States to film a documentary. Filmmaker Charles, armed with a script by Anthony Hines, Peter Baynham, Dan Mazer, and Baron Cohen, delivers an erratic yet often hilarious comedy that benefits substantially from Baron Cohen’s fearless and completely captivating turn as the central character, as the actor does a terrific job of infusing his gleefully offensive protagonist with sympathetic, compelling qualities – which, as a result, ensures that Borat’s wildly over-the-top exploits generally remain far more engaging and entertaining than one might’ve anticipated. It’s equally clear, however, that narrative’s episodic bent does pave the way for a hit-and-miss midsection saddled with as many of the latter as the former, although there’s little doubt that such concerns are rendered moot in the face of Baron Cohen’s mesmerizing performance and several memorable, almost iconic set-piece (eg Borat and Azamat’s naked fight through a hotel, Borat’s appearance at a rodeo, etc) – with final result a solid endeavor that, more often than not, lives up to its reputation as a cult favorite.

*** out of ****