Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm (2020) Review

Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm 

Dir. Jason Woliner 

 

Sacha Baron Cohen goes straight for America's thick, sweaty jugular.






14 years after the global success of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006), Sacha Baron Cohen has decided the time is right for Borat to return to the US and A, but does this satirical sequel measure up to the original?

 

Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm feels more in line with Baron Cohen's recent TV effort Who is America? but it carries on the story of Borat seamlessly. I benefited from watching both Borat films back to back. It feels like we never left Borat's village. Sacha Baron Cohen resumes his antics and the results are outrageously funny. The stakes are higher than ever.

 

The film has more of a point this time out. It has a political message. Trump's America is ripe for the satirical plucking. The only problem is, people have wised up slightly since 2006 (despite what the politics of the United States would tell you). Borat became so famous that he can no longer get away with things in his guise. The film addresses this in-universe problem by having Borat wear a number of disguises to hide from the public. The results catch people out the same as ever. Along for the ride this time, Borat has a daughter (or a non-male child as he would tell you) . Newcomer Maria Bakalova plays Tutar; a near feral child of Borat's who sneaks into his trip to America. Bakalova is wholly committed to endangering herself in public with embarrassing stunts and capers. Her scenes and pranks are some of the most memorable of the film, yet it never feels as if the spirit of Borat himself is lost. 

On the chopping block for public embarrassment are congressmen, rednecks, health experts and even former NY mayor Rudy Giulliani in a potentially career-ending clip.

 

Is it funnier than Borat 1? Possibly. There are some hide-behind-your-hands moments and laugh till you cry skits. Borat is on top form as usual. The breakout star Maria Bakalova fits in perfectly. There’s more of a structure to this film; it tackles hot issues including Corona Virus (which the film is forced to improvise around and incorporate into the story). The only downfall of Borat 2 is the same thing that is its biggest strength. The bitingly topical issues it deals with. This movie is hilarious in 2020, but will it be as funny in 2030? It runs the risk of aging very quickly. The first film focused more on the general stupidity of the country, only lightly jabbing at the then-current Bush government. Borat 2 is very much a movie about 2020. It’s biggest strength is also it’s one weakness. 

In retrospect, Borat 2 may not be as fun in years to come, but right now, as it’s fresh off the press; Borat's Subsequent Moviefilm is a laugh riot that matches the wild hijinks of the original hit-for-hit.

 

8/10



Review by Elliott Thomas Griffiths 

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