Some Thoughts On Borat ...

I tried to write a full on review of Borat earlier today and failed miserably. I have since come to the conclusion that this is because Borat is essentially a critic-proof film, both because fans of Sacha Baron Cohen and his creation are going to come out in droves no matter what anyone says and because it's impossible to say anything meaningful about the film without simply recounting the different gags. So here are some quasi-random thoughts.

If you are already familiar with Borat, Cohen's Kazakh reporter alter ego, then you will get exactly what you expect and hope for from this film. If you aren't, well then brace yourself for one of the funniest, awkwardest and most good naturedly politically incorrect comedy experiences you will ever encounter. It's less a film than sketch comedy built around a single joke but it works because the road trip format allows for sketch comedy, because the joke is a very funny one, because they follow the basic rules of escalation, and because they are smart enough to know when to stop. You will laugh so hard it hurts at least a handful of times and I count at least a trio of moments - The Running of the Jew, The Bear In The Ice Cream Truck, and The Naked Wrestling - that are instant comedy classics.

Borat has been by far the hottest ticket of the festival and there were more than a handful of people roaming the Press and Industry screenings today quoting lines from the film to each other which is a major rarity. I'm reasonably confident that the protestors are already gearing up but I'm also pretty confident that this is the comedy title of the year.