I’m not one to judge a film based on politics. I want to sit down, hear a good story, see some good acting, laugh at a great comedy or feel stirred by an epic drama, and leave who went to whose fundraiser at the door. But when that rare movie comes along that touches on every political theme a foreign policy junkie loves, it’s the politics — or in this case, the unabashed political incorrectness — that makes the film.
For all of the mocking they invite, not enough films have really goofed on dictators. Team America: World Police did an utterly classic dressing down of Kim Jong-Il (still mad they never sold a stuffed doll in movie merchandising), UN weapons inspectors (Hans Brix!), terrorists in Dirkadirkastan, and Alec Baldwin.
When The Dictator opened with a dedication in loving memory of Kim Jong-Il, I had high hopes for this latest Sacha Baron Cohen outing. And for the most part, it didn’t disappoint, pulling the eccentricities of the era’s goofiest tyrants such as Gadhafi (and his all-female bodyguard squad) into one character.
Past punking people as he did as Borat and Bruno, Cohen is Admiral General Aladeen, dictator of the fictional North African country Wadiya, which is squeezed next to Sudan on a cable-news map (he calls blacks in America “sub-Saharans”). In a classic speech, he tells the country and the world that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and for medical purposes only. By the time he gets to the part about not wanting to take out Israel, he can’t contain his laughter.
And as he promptly goes to visit his secret nuclear weapons facility, it’s clear that the main target is Iran — in a later scene, supervising a store in Brooklyn, he makes employees call him the “Supreme Grocer.” He refers to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a guy who looks like a “snitch on Miami Vice.” (I’d always thought B-movie director, myself.) His nuclear missile is called the “Beard of Doom.”
Like the “ronery” Kim Jong-Il puppet of Team America fame, Aladeen is lonely and wants someone to cuddle — something more than the hooker who quickly gets dressed, noting that she’s due at the Italian prime minister’s. It’s little digs like this that are cleverly woven throughout.
Can’t wait to see this motion picture! Sacha Cohen is a trip.
There is nothing truly politically incorrect or courageous about it. It takes the easy, low and safe road of parody. It’s flat and unfunny.
Yes, I agree, the Movie is exactly like the Progressives themselves who inspired the film, and likewise whenever they happen to show up.
Rape jokes….
Yeah this doesn’t help Mitt with women voters.
You should have come out hard saying how wrong the rape jokes are.
Just an observation.
Sal, what does this movie (or rape jokes generally) have to do with Mitt Romney?
You don’t like rape jokes? You like just the ones that make fun of murder and maiming? How about the rape of males? (Like the prison rape jokes used by late-night comedians virtually every other week.)
Just wondering.
They forgot to tell Sacha that exploring reality like he does is a no no. Ain’t permissible, shows poor tact and a lack of politesse and class.
But, like Rush, Sacha goes ahaid and fills the void left by the news entertainers. The latter, the opinion programmers, you can’t blame them for the void, cuz… there are sensitivities to be taken into account. Wouldn’t want to unnecessarily upset the Moslems.
I heard that all teh funneh is in the trailer and the rest of the movie just ain’t so much. True? Anyone?
I have it on very good authority that Cohen is being considered for the role of Tevye in the still-in-development remake of “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Aside from his schtick, he is actually a very serious actor and graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
That’s show biz.
Did you tell us all the good lines?
I saw it last night.
Non stop howling and laughing for 90 minutes.
Some of it was crude and rude humor as expected.