revolver journal

At the Movies: We saw Borat

by jorin

So the other week a good portion of Revolver went and saw Borat (on opening day, no less, and it was packed), and we all had a good time together, and I think universally at least found some moments to laugh at during the whole thing.

Being a guy that has a problem watching the Flintstones or the Jeffersons because I don’t like set-ups where a protagonist is obviously doing something wrong and will inevitably get a come-uppance for it, I’m not the best candidate for enjoying discomfort comedy. So I was a step behind — as well as never having watched the TV show, so I wasn’t already in the fan crowd.

But there was a lot I did find funny, and a lot I did laugh out loud about — but I think I was in the minority of us that felt kind of “eh” about the movie. It doesn’t really get my recommendation, although I don’t say avoid it … and you’ll probably find it very funny, most people seem to.

To me, it wasn’t much different from an extended Candid Camera bit … or I guess Punk’d to try to put it in a more recent context, just with a nastier edge and targets that represented distinct population segments.

And, really, some stuff made me sad enough to not be able to really find it that funny. In that, the opinions of the dupes being expressed were exactly what you might expect from a stereotype, and that made it feel like some of the ugly, horrible things being said weren’t just some idiot caught letting something slip. It felt more like “there are a lot of people that really think these things”, and that’s not really funny — it’s horrifying. So it exposes something important, I guess, but it really robs me of any ability to laugh.

And here’s something that came out today about some of the people that said some really appalling things.

So, I guess maybe I’m overthinking or being a stick-in-the-mud, but I had a lot of different problems with just purely enjoying the movie. Which maybe is the point?

rob Says:
November 13th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
I have a slightly different opinion of the film in that…I f’n loved it.

I don’t want to give anything away, so I won’t talk about any specifics, but I enjoyed all of the elements of this film. There were scripted scenes, candid camera moments (to borrow Jorin’s comparison), and great slapstick/physical comedy moments that were absolutely hysterical. I think that the reason I liked Borat so much was because it wasn’t the same gag over and over.

I know that it isn’t a “traditional” film but I can’t think of a movie that I’ve seen (in recent memory or maybe ever) that has made me laugh that hard. This is the movie that has come closest (I am fully aware that this revelation may discredit my opinion).
jorin Says:
November 14th, 2006 at 11:06 am
More uproar!
ryan Says:
November 15th, 2006 at 5:53 pm
I liked the part where he drowned that cat in jello. I never even thought someone or something could drown in jello, but Borat totally did it.

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At the Movies: We saw Borat

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