Borat Subsequent Moviefilm poster

“I found a new book which only tells the truth. It’s called Facebook. I learn so many facts there. Like, our nation’s proudest moment, the Holocaust, never happened!”

Tutar Sagdiyev

The most surprising thing about the effective but inconsistent Borat sequel — other than its arrival at all, 14 years after its predecessor — is that it contains a fully-fledged narrative arc. Naturally this comes at the expense of the original’s sublime unscripted sequences, which occur more sporadically in Subsequent Moviefilm. On the other hand, unaware Americans revealing their willingness to overlook racist or sexist attitudes now presents scant shock value following Trump’s election. Scenes of coronavirus conspiracy and paranoia show the speed at which this production has been executed, though little is unexpected. With Borat an immediately recogniseable household name throughout much of the “US+A”, Sacha Baron Cohen’s secret weapon (other than a parade of ostentatious disguises) is Maria Bakalova, a Bulgarian-born actor who plays Borat’s daughter. Her bold performance elicits some of the films most startling footage, though any outrage is unlikely to last long. Ultimately, in the timing of its release and its closing message, the film’s purpose is clear: it is a plea to American voters. That it often manages to be pretty funny too is a bonus.

7/10