It was never going to be easy to follow Sacha Baron Cohen’s big hit Borat movie: Borat – Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006).

Released more than 14 years ago, directed by Larry Charles and co-written by Cohen, it was funny, shocking, refreshing and cleverly put together. Fast forward to now, and I have to say that I found Cohen’s followup, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm quite disappointing.

There are very few moments in director Jason Wliner’s movie where I smiled and maybe laughed a little. Far more frequently, there are cringeworthy and sometimes gross/in-bad-taste scenes that failed to amuse; at times, because the scenes were more unnecessarily vulgar than funny. Other times, I could see the intended joke coming, but not in a way that made me look forward to the punchline; the reason being, I’d seen something similar in the first Borat movie, where it was more amusing.

I appreciate the way Wliner’s film acknowledges some recent/current key happenings in the world, from COVID-19 and the Me Too Movement, to events in American politics. I only wish I liked the seemingly rushed finished product more.

Forced to choose, my favourite moment besides when we learn of the maskini,’ is perhaps some of the scenes during the daughter’s makeover.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is one you watch if you’re SUPER curious. Having now watched it, I know that I’d have missed very little had I steered clear.

Happy Film Loving,

G