Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Humor is hard to control. What one person find funny might be offensive to another. Thus, it is very difficult to produce a comedy that is critically acclaimed. Just think about when the last time was that a comedy movie won an award. Can't remember? Me neither. This is because most films in the comedy genre turn out to be riddled with either cliche jokes or potty humor more suitable for grade-school kids. A good comedy should point out things that defy common sense that persist and make a point to use humor to bring out some other element of life. That is what the trailer for Borat suggested. I solemnly expected to be entertained while Borat went about pointing out all the bigotry, racism, and other wrongful aspects of American society that exist. I expected an intellecutual direction behind all the jokes. I expected rewatch value.

But that is not what I received. What I received was a brutal destruction of decency. There is nothing funny about being a complete snob. Playing jokes on the random suspecting people could have been funny if there was a point. Instead, it was largely pointless. The context was used as an excuse to perform outrageous, public acts rather than vice versa. Many of the acts bordered on obscene - simply disgusting affairs. It is not that I disagree with the supposed concept behind the movie. I love the TV show "House", wherein the main character acts like a complete ass and breaks all the rules. But if it was just a random doctor it would not be worth watching. The seller is that House is always right. That is the social doctrine he follows. He is a good doctor. Borat can make no such claim. He breaks the rules for no reason, toward no end, to serve no purpose. He is not right. He just likes being obscene, as if that was enough in of itself. It is not. It is great that such things as Borat is allowed to exist under free speech. It certainly pushes some boundaries. However, in this society, people should have better sense than to produce something like Borat. Just because something is allowed doesn't mean it should be done. Especially in this case.

Pros: It makes the time go away if there's absolutely nothing else to watch.
Cons: Low budget look. Obscene. No rewatch value. Things that are just wrong.
Conclusion: Gives a few good laughs, but is that really enough?
Score: 1/5