Limited, but Good, Hard Laughs ...

Rating: Null/10 (12 November 2006)

It's hard to tell someone else what's funny and what isn't.
For me, I found that only about 15% of the movie got me to actually laugh. But that's not too bad because I almost never laugh in movies. Plus, in that 15% were some very funny and memorable moments.
The movie is basically done as a travel log documentary of a fictitious Kazakhstan TV reporter (Borat) who travels to the United States. In the movie we watch his crude mannerisms and commentaries emerge with unsuspecting interviewees. This is where most of the humor comes from.
Borat interviews / interacts with personalities ranging from evangelists and cowboys to etiquette coaches and gun dealers.
For me, most of the jokes were misfires or familiar, predictable scenarios (esp. if you've seen the 'Ali G' TV series). However, in the areas where the skits did succeed - well, it's hard to put a value on a good laugh. I would describe the humor as crude - but creative and fresh as well.
Be forewarned - there is a lot of material that deals with areas like racism, gender-bashing and homosexuality. Depending on how it comes across to you, it will be either vile and offensive or humorous social commentary.
See this movie with a friend - sharing / recalling funny moments from the movie is a fun way to spend some time afterwards.