Tasteless and Offensive but FUNNY

Rating: 9/10 (3 November 2006)

Anyone who is likely to be offended by sex jokes, anti-Semitic and other ethnic jokes, or scatological humor would be well advised to stay away from "Borat" -- make that far away. But for those with a suitably twisted sense of humor, the movie is world class fun.
"Borat" achieves a level of inspired nuttiness I had not seen since the height of the Monty Python oeuvre. There is something about British humor that allows thorough silliness but (seeming) earnestness and seriousness, too.
Our protagonist, Borat Sagdiev a Kazakhstani TV reporter, comes to America to report on "the greatest country in the world." During the course of his adventures, Borat learns about the intricacies of indoor plumbing and vows to marry Pamela Anderson  to whom he later proposes at a book signing, promising Pamela her own plow if she will have him. And so it goes.
Some reviewers have found high minded messages in Borat. I, in stark contrast, thought that it was simply a very funny guy  Sacha Baron Cohen, the star and co-writer of the piece  creating some very funny situations of an earnest but naïve visitor to our shores dealing with culture shock of a high order in a raunchy but inspired way. Messages aside, it's the funniest movie I've seen in a long time. Highly recommended, 9 out of 10