Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Exposes the Worst of Us
The new Borat movie, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm… where to begin... I cringed, my jaw dropped, and mostly I laughed my ass off. But it also left me thinking and talking and trying to erase the image of Sacha Baron Cohen in a mask ‘mankini’ out of my head (among other things).
I loved the first Borat movie, even those scenes that touched a little bit too close to home that made my cheeks turn red while watching the film with friends for the first time. This second film is almost equally hilarious, but also leaves you with the taste of shit in your mouth when you realize some of the people in this film are actual human beings in this country who are respected in their communities.
:: Spoiler Alert from here on out, folks ::
Borat exposed the worst of us.
Sorry, Trumpers. Some of your people were shown in particularly horrible light in this film (gesturing with the Hitler-approved Sieg Heil salute at a rally, legitimately thinking that Hillary Clinton drinks human blood on occasion, etc.). But regardless, you should still watch it. Maybe it’ll show you a different side of the people behind the curtain, so to speak, that you are supporting by voting for a Trump ticket this November. And if it doesn’t make you think at all, at least you’ll enjoy laughing while a straight-faced man sells Baron Cohen a cage for his 15-year-old daughter, played by Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova, to live in.
And wtf is with women being the absolute worst to other women. See: the bitchy woman at the Hillsborough GOP club conference who instead of just being mortified like the rest of the woman took it a step further and insulted the (supposed) young girl on the stage with a snarky clap and subsequent comments under her breath. This shit happens in real life! I’m willing to bet that 99.9% of you ladies reading this have done the same things before or have at the very least witnessed something similar in your presence… just maybe not necessarily at a weird conference like this at a Hampton Inn with an underage girl giving a lecture on masturbation. (Or maybe you have… I don’t know, I’m not judging.)
And finally, I’m fully disgusted (and quite honestly I hope Rudy Giuliani’s family is absolutely appalled as well) by his ‘shirt tucking in behavior.’ Watch it for yourself and be the judge as to whether you would be skeeved af if your friend or daughter or sister was in that same situation. (Remember, a vote for Trump supports this scumbag as well. Just saying.)
If you don’t believe me and you think everything I’ve said so far is fake news, just watch the film. Please. I implore you to watch the scene where Pastor Jonathan Bright from the Crisis Pregnancy Center in the Carolinas tells the (supposed) 15-year-old girl that she needs to keep her baby even though it was the product of incest. Or when the bakery owner has no qualms about writing “Jews will not replace us” on a very large round chocolate cake. Or when Vice President Pence proudly claims that coronavirus is “under control” at a conservative conference in late February 2020.
While Borat 2 showed the worst of us, it also highlighted two positively delightful women that I would be totally remiss if I didn’t give them props.
Jeanise Jones is a saint; I’m convinced. As well as one of the only ‘characters’ in the film who actually gave a shit about the (supposed) 15-year-old girl. To be in the position she was in and to try her best to help the young girl, was nothing short of inspiring. Though I truly have no idea how she kept a straight face on when explaining to Bakalova that vaginas do not have teeth and will not eat you alive.
Judith Dim Evans, also a saint. She stood there and took the most offensive abhorrent crap from the Borat character with the most elegant and caring poise. In her short time on screen, she encouraged love not hate and created one of the most heartwarming scenes in the entire movie. (Side note: rest in peace, JDE.)
So there you have it, folks - a review and my two cents on the new Borat movie. If after all this you decide you’re still in the mood to watch this absolutely hilarious flick, I suggest leaving time afterwards to discuss all the craziness and to laugh at all the ridiculous pranks a third and fourth time with your watch-buddies. And seriously, it is so worth a watch!
