Baron Cohen previously attempted to ruin years of hard work from The 11 O'Clock Show to Ali G in da U.S.Aiii by unconvincingly bringing his spoof yoof TV cretin to the big screen in a fictitious movie. Here he has thankfully learned from his mistake and has stuck to the small screen format for this outing. Borat, his follow up character to Ali G, stars in a movie that is basically an extension of his TV spots interspersed with some scripted bantering between the star and his Kazakhstani 'producer'.

The plot involves the moustachioed journalist departing from his ramshackle hometown (in one of the funniest opening scenes ever) to travel to America in search of 'cultural understanding for make benefit glorious nation of Kazakhstan'. However, Borat becomes sidetracked when he sees an episode of Baywatch on his hotel room TV, and decides instead to pursue Pamela Anderson and marry her. The ensuing road trip provides the writers with a slew of middle American situations – and inhabitants – to exploit and, as well as rehashing some of the television show gags, there is plenty here to entertain even the most knowledgeable fanboy.

The genius of Borat is that he is bursting with everything that is unacceptable in modern society, and cannot understand why everyone he encounters on his quest for knowledge does not agree with his profoundly warped views. He is a racist, a misogynist, a homophobe, and has a distinct fixation on animal rape, penis size and an ironic inclination toward homosexual practice. He is utterly terrified of and repelled by Jews, and because Baron Cohen is himself Jewish, he permits himself to take liberties with stereotyping and bigotry that no-one else could possibly get away with, above all in a major cinematic release.

The film is packed with 'Oh Christ don't say/do that!' moments where Baron Cohen pushes unsuspecting people further and further, and the film's most uncomfortable/hilarious scene involves the singing of the Kazakhstan national anthem to a Deep South rodeo audience, to the tune of the American national anthem. Apparently this scene nearly got Baron Cohen and his crew killed, and as the crowd turns on him he still manages to finish the song and keep a straight face in front of a disgusted and booing crowd.

This is not a film for the easily offended, and beneath the comedy is a savagely political film with insights into some aspects of American culture that will shock. If you have not seen Borat's television segments on the Ali G Show before, it is advised that you familiarise yourself with him before sitting through an hour and a half of this film. For those who know and love him this is pretty much the perfect film. It is Alan Partridge-esque in its cringeworthiness and its hilarity, and is easily one of the funniest films I have ever seen. The faults are few (a naked wrestling act is far too bottom drawer for a film of this intelligence) and you are guaranteed to wet yourself as Baron Cohen's Borat improvises his way brilliantly through scene after scene with numerous highlights, from a drunken fratboy piss-up to the unorthodox way in which Borat attempts to marry Pamela Anderson at the climax of his journey. A must-see.

Rated 16 (see IFCO website for details)
Borat is released on 3rd November 2006.
Borat – Official website