Very funny, but uncritical and vulgar

Rating: 1/10 (6 November 2006)

There is no doubt that the movie is extremely funny, largely due to extraordinary performance of the protagonist and of several supporting actors. But it lacks the depth, the insight, and the critical strength of truly great comedies. Rather than exploring the plausible (and potentially comical) conflicts arising from Borat's contact with the United States, the authors' humor aims at ridiculing the Other (the poor, uneducated, and misbehaved Kazakhi) for the benefit of audiences who will identify themselves with the comfortable, proper, and wealthy Self (i.e., the United States of America).
Ultimately, this is a trivial and vulgar attempt at establishing the ostensible superiority of American culture, society, and lifestyle over a country that is depicted in unrealistic and unnecessarily derogatory tones. I urge anyone who sees (or does not see) this movie to find out about the real Kazakhstan. You may be surprised.