Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is the sequel to 2006’s infamous phenomenon Borat. It’s filmed in the same documentary style as the first, but instead of making fun of America as a whole, this one singles out a political party. It will have you either rolling on the floor in laughter or cringing until well after the credits roll. Let’s consider the pros and cons of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm…

Pros: Firstly, Sacha Baron Cohen is a comedic genius and gives an absolutely bonkers performance as Borat. And similarly to the first film, Sacha is able to provoke unbelievable yet predictable reactions from seemingly real people. Which scenes have actors and which don’t could be a topic worth debating, but the ingenuity of splicing it all together to fit the overall narrative is an accomplishment in and of itself. Maria Baklova also deserves credit for the heavy lifting she’s doing as Borat’s daughter.

Cons: As I have said in the introduction, there is just as much here to cringe at as there is to laugh at. For instance, there were several moments that were so violently awkward that I couldn’t even bear to continue looking at the screen. Not only are these scenes uncomfortable to watch, but some are extremely shocking as well. Finally, while I acknowledge that Borat is making jokes at the expense of both Democrats and Republicans, it is heavily slanted to one side. This will inevitably limit the audience for this movie, which is unfortunate because there is a lot of cleverness going on beyond the political jokes.

I give Borat Subsequent Moviefilm a B. It is not the easiest moviefilm to recommend to anyone, but it may be worth watching for it’s uniqueness alone. If you enjoyed the first Borat, you will surely find plenty of laughs here. If you tend to lean more conservative, you may want to skip this torture altogether and no one will blame you. Check it out now on Amazon Prime Video and let me know what you think. Happy Watching!

“I go to America! (gets booed)”