Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan ★★★ 2006 (R)

British comic Sacha Baron Cohen is outrageously funny as Borat, the cheerfully ignorant and prejudiced “sixth best known reporter in Kazakhstan.” The plot follows Borat's travels through America in order to bring back to his homeland two things he feels strongly about: lessons on America and Pamela Anderson. The plot is just a frame to prop up the real aim of the moviefilm, which is to allow the American public to parody and incriminate itself. Viewers will simultaneously wince and laugh as Bo-rat's seemingly innocent Third World anti-Semitism, homophobia and misogyny are reflected in unknowing victims from both jerkwater towns and cosmopolitan cities. Critically hailed upon its release, the film was dogged with numerous lawsuits and complaints from offended parties, particularly the Kazakh government. The humor is often crude (there is a credit for “Feces provided by”) and disturbing (an extended scene of graphic “dudity” when Borat and producer Azamat (Davitian) wrestle over a magazine picture), but it is genuinely funny and unsettling. 82m/C DVD . US Sacha Baron Cohen, Pamela Anderson, Ken Davitian, Pat Haggerty, Alan Keyes, Luenell; D: Larry Charles; W: Sacha Baron Cohen, Peter Baynham, Dan Mazer, Anthony Hines; C: Luke Geissbuhler, Anthony Hardwick; M: Erran Baron Cohen. Golden Globes '07: Actor—Mus./Comedy (Cohen).