The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

Forget the fact that Borat is a jab at the Americana culture. This movie is just plain funny. There aren't too many films that make me laugh out loud, but Borat has multiple scenes that leave you howling and wanting more. No doubt about it, this is one of the best movies of 2006.

The best thing about it, is that the more you think about it, the funnier it gets. Sometimes there's just not a lot of time to digest what you just saw, but if you review some of the scenes with those who have also seen it, the enjoyment level increases and will no doubt demand repeat viewing. Although many might be offended by his character's no-holds-barred view of Jews, women and "retards", but as he tours America and encounters rodeo folk, gun shop owners and car salesman, he scaringly blends right into their way of thinking. The average American, it seems, turns a blind eye to his character's homophobic, racist and anti-Semitic tendencies.

To give you an idea of what you are getting yourself into, one of the opening scenes involves Borat reporting on the "Running of the Jew", where huge float-sized "Jew" caricatures chase the local Kazakhstan townspeople. The scene is hilarious as it's so outrageous: it really makes a point of how out of control people's hatred for another race or religion can get out of hand.

The plot is simple enough: As Kazakhstan's #6 most famous journalist (at least I think it's #6) Borat is assigned with his friend Azamat to make a documentary on the "U. S. and A". While in New York City, he discovers Baywatch and falls in love with Pamela Anderson. He decides to travel across the country to California in a beat up old ice cream truck to pursue Pamela has his next wife. Sounds like it's a stupid road trip movie, but it's so much more.

The crudeness of Borat reminded me a little of Jackass, except Jackass didn't really have anything substantive behind it; it was sick solely for the sake of being sick. Borat does have it's moments of outright vulgarity, yes, but at the same time there is a comedic genius to be found here. Don't watch this movie with your tightly-wound in-laws, but laugh knowing that in doing so, you're supporting a movie that is very, very smart.