The Dictator - Film Review

The Dictator - Film Review

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Posted 2012-05-14 by Matt Elliot Taylorfollow

Opening this week is the latest helping of shock humour from Sacha Baron Cohen, and after having seen Borat [2006] at the pictures, I could expect a very packed cinema; not of people necessarily, but of laughs; laughs that would encourage me to join in the fun, even if I wasn't at times. The Dictator is no exception to this experience, as I saw it in a cinema with 200 people that provided a symphony of laughter to keep my funny bone always at the ready.

My first impression of Sacha Baron Cohen's new comedy was a refreshing one; refreshing in the sense that I was expecting another Borat, just with more expensive costumes. But when the lights dimmed and the first title card read "In loving memory of Kim-Jong Il" I couldn't help but roar with laughter and raise my expectation to the 'cheeky political satire' level.

The setup is very funny, with the film illustrating via newsreel footage some of the Dictator's so-called 'claims to fame' including him part-taking in his own version of the Olympic Games in which he shoots game officials and other athletes in order to win the Gold. This is all so direct, so uncompromisingly frank in what its showing us that I couldn't help but laugh; not because it's clever but because no-one else would have done it like that.


Then the story begins: when Admiral General Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) travels from his fictitious nation of Wadiya to the United Nations, he is overthrown by his Premier Tamir (Ben Kingsley) who replaces him with an imposter who is of course also played by Sacha Baron Cohen because really, who else looks like him? In order to rise back to power and reclaim his throne so that Tamir and his Aladeen imposter don't sign over his beloved nation as a Democracy (Heaven forbid, right?), he must befriend political activist Zoey (Anna Faris). It is through this impending romantic relationship, as predictable as it is, that Sacha Baron Cohen gets to come out with vulgar comedy guns a-blazin' and much of their screen time together has more to do with sexual discovery (both mutual and self-inflicted) than it does about politics.

In fact, the film is filled with that kind of humour. The story strolls along, and we stroll with it, but every minute it seems another joke involving murder, rape, women, sex and terrorism comes right out and smacks the conservativeness right out of you. But let me be very clear here; this is all fine – much of it was quite funny – it just grew a bit tired despite the 80-minute running time. The jokes are piled into the story in such a way that it must have felt like a crime to leave a scene out for fear of losing a few gags. What the film lacks in satirical wit, it makes up for only about 50% of the way in terms of comedy, but 100% for the sheer audacity of the project. Full credit to Cohen for delivering to Western audiences a film that is sure to offend someone out there. If not, you've probably been numbed by his previous two transgressively outrageous pictures; the aforementioned Borat and the absolutely dreadful Bruno [2009].


It seems that Cohen may have learned from his mistakes (i.e. Bruno) and pulled on the reins a little with this film, because if you were to see all three in one sitting, The Dictator would feel like a breath of fresh air. It is a more conventional recipe for a comic political satire, with only half a cup of Cohen's unique style of uncompromising offensive humour thrown in the mix. This is definitely tamer in terms of content when compared to his other work.

The Dictator is indeed an enjoyable experience, particularly if you were to see it with friends, or if you're a fan of his other films. While some of the humour is completely random and falls flat at times, there is enough to walk away with a chuckle under your breath.



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188611 - 2023-06-16 03:11:12

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