It’s quite possible that ‘Borat’, or to give it it’s full name ‘Borat: Cultural Learning of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan’ is the most offensive, non-politically correct and generally wrong film ever made (and ever likely to be made for that matter). That said, it’s also hilariously funny. However, if you’re easily offended then I would advise you avoid it like the plaque.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s creation of Borat, a journalist from a provincial town in Kazakhstan, first came to light as one of his many characters on ‘Da Ali G show’ and has now followed the fore mentioned Mr G onto the big screen. The film follows Borat and his producer as they travel to New York in order to learn more about the American way of life. Once there, it becomes apparent that Borat is very much out of his depth and the customs of his home country are not so welcome in the USA. None-the-less, he is determined to learn all about their culture so that he can take his findings back to Kazakhstan and he sets about it in his customary larger than life manner. However, he sees an episode of ‘Baywatch’ on the television and immediately becomes infatuated with Pamela Anderson, thus dedicating the rest of his fact finding trip to locating her. And so he embarks on a mission across the American mid west with hilarious consequences.

The plot is rather tenuous, but then, with a film of this nature, a strong plot isn’t really essential. The action moves along quite nicely and rattles along at a fair old pace.

Given the content of the film, it’s almost impossible to describe many of the scenes without offending somebody but in particular, look out for the ‘not joke’ scene and the dinner party.

I don’t believe that Sacha Baron Cohen set out with the deliberate intention of being offensive with this film but rather it’s his way of having a rather large dig at the often overly PC society in which we live.

It’s certainly not going to win any Oscars but if you’re looking for a film to tickle your funny bone then this is the film for you.

by Sian Lewis