Jamie passion and passionfruit!

The comedy sensation of the year in the northern hemisphere and a film that reminds you of those fake tour guides to places that exaggerate all their worst features but are sufficiently accurate to be recognisable.  Here we have a snapshot of a backward Kazakhstan through the eyes of our host Borat, a local TV reporter.  It looks like a pretty ghastly place.  And then we have his trip and report from the US where he hopes to get some tips on how to benefit his country culturally.  This section sees him interview and meet loads of ordinary candid Americans who naively describe their country to him and their likes and dislikes.  It gets to be hilarious at times but also gives us an insight into where the lines are between acceptable and taboo behaviour and the differences between generations and social groups.  There is a lot of material to chew on in this film and you have a good time watching it if you like studying people.  Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat is a star and creates a most watchable character.  However, when the 90 minutes were up I had strangely had enough.  I could watch it again but it is a movie for small doses and it does require some suspension of belief.  Very perceptive and well made, it falls short of great but I did laugh out loud and for a film these days it is a real plus.

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