The Dictator

I'm revisiting various comedies from the 2000s and 2010s to answer one question: why do American comedies taken such a nosedive as of late?

The Dictator may not be one of the decade's greatest comedies and was widely viewed as - to use a contemporary term - quite mid. Not too bad, nothing amazing. Yes, Baron Cohen has made better films and more enduring, interesting characters. Oddly, General Aladeen (the titular Dictator) comes off as a relic of a time past: we really don't have dictators quite like Muammar Gaddafi or Saddam Hussein - two men who are obvious inspirations to Cohen's eclectic, offensive, and frankly, hilarious character - anymore, do we?

There's also this tongue-in-cheek, "we can be offensive as we want" energy that I kind of love about this movie. Nowadays, even Cohen himself seems mindful of causing too much offense to the wrong groups. But back then, it really didn't matter: anyone was fair game. That, along with the film's anti-authoritarian leanings, makes it a celebration of free speech and expression. So much so that the film (intelligently) manages to criticize the democratic world and the United States in particular quite mercilessly.

There are some truly hilarious gags involving bodily humour to, as per Cohen's style. He can be very sophisticated and satirical, but go for a good masturbation or body hair or...um...phone inside a woman giving birth joke as well. This is not a movie that "elevates" itself from the things we all know are really funny, deep down.

The supporting cast is also really good here. Ben Kingsley was the perfect choice, Anna Faris has that face that conveys well meaning stupidity unlike any other actress in Hollywood, and Jason Mantzoukas...man, you could've told me he was an Iranian nuclear scientist and I'd believe you. I cannot accept that he's of "100% Greek heritage" (although, apparently he's long has an interest in the Middle East and has lived and studied there).

The movie isn't perfect. It gets a little silly at times and the jokes sometimes overstay their welcome. Its brand of humour isn't for everyone either. It also lacks the staying power of Cohen's other films and I think part of that has to do with the - likely studio - insistence that it be a romantic comedy. It doesn't really work, even if it is really funny.

Lesson Learned: Even a "mid" comedy from America's Comedic Golden Age is better than most comedies today. The Dictator is willing to piss everyone off and it ages like fine wine.

The non-stop jokes, off-color humor, slapstick and under 90 minute running time of "The Dictator" hearkens back to early Woody Allen gems like "What's Up Tiger Lily," "Take The Money and Run," "Bananas," and "Love and Death. And, in the world of comedy, that's quite a compliment.

Like Cohen, Allen's first films were often misunderstood. Some folks just did not get the joke. Many still don't get it today. The object of comedy has always been to take down the high and mighty by whatever means necessary. And, if you happen to be a Middle Eastern despot, you will find much to be offended by here. But, as Allen often did as well, Cohen uses racial and gender stereotypes to shine a light on people's attitudes, and that's likely to put off others as well. That's fine. Some comedy just isn't for everyone.

While his writing style owes much to Allen, his acting chops are also influenced heavily by one of Britain's greatest comics, Peter Sellers. You can see it in his outrageous accents and in his ridiculous pratfalls. Like Sellers, Cohen is fearless in his characterizations and, again, like Sellers, there will be those who will take offense in this. Again, not for everyone. But, if you laughed your butt off at Sellers' simpleton Indian character destroying a Hollywood party, you will be laughing here too.

And that's what we're talking about; laughs. Not every joke works. Many fall flat. But the film starts off fast and furious with a rapid succession of gags, most of which work hilariously, settles down for a bit and then takes off again, literally. His verbal sparring with co-star Jason Mantzoukas is one of the highlights as are many of the fun cameo appearances and a running joke about his name that I will not reveal here. There are many great sight gags that are easily missed and the appearance of his Efawadh character at the U.N. channels a scene right out of Allen's "Sleeper." There's a few scatological and sex jokes also (one about excrement, one about urination, one about masturbation, several about body parts), and these, if you ask me, are the low point of the film (except a child birth scene that's as funny as it is outrageous). But, the bodily fluid gags, so rampant in comedy films today, are actually few and far between. And there's a bit of a message, too.

We're not dealing with "Citizen Kane" here. But, then, this film made me laugh much more.

When the UN threatens the nuclear program of the Republic of Wadiya, the dictator Hafez Aladeen (Sacha Baron Cohen) decides to go to New York to make a speech in the assembly. However, his minister Tamir (Ben Kingsley) is plotting a scheme to topple Aladeen and sign multimillionaire contracts with foreign oil companies to make him a tycoon.

Tamir hires the torturer Clayton (John C. Reilly) to kill Aladeen, but he fails and the dictator flees without his long beard. Aladeen unsuccessfully tries to reach the Lancaster Hotel and he meets the owner of the store of natural products Zoey (Anna Faris), who is protesting against the presence of Aladeen in UN. She believes that he is Allison Burgers, a refugee from Wadiya and brings Aladeen to her store to help him to cater the hotel. He stays with her while he tries to find a means to break in the hotel with his comrade Nadal (Jason Mantzoukas).

The politically incorrect "The Dictator" is one of the funniest and most intelligent criticisms I have ever seen in many years. Sacha Baron Cohen is hilarious in the role of a dictator and only his speech in the United Nation explaining what a dictatorship is to people used to "democracy" makes the movie worth. But there are several other jokes that made me laugh most of the time. Further the cameos are also a great attraction, especially Megan Fox in the role of herself. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Ditador" ("The Dictator")

Most of the movie is pretty witty. The satire is crude and unfiltered, but most of it is pretty spot on. A bit like South Park stories but with bigger children.

The gross out humor however could have been way shorter. Some low hanging fruit lowest common denominator jokes were drawn out unnecessarily. I had to skip several 10 minute parts, but I missed none of the story anyway.

The love story part was forced. The suspension of disbelief was stretched so far it was almost painful.

Overall it was a reasonable story and I did laugh several times.

It could have used some extra editing and other extra care, then it would be a really good movie.

I usually avoid movies I know will be explicit and include crude humor because it's just not my cup of tea. So, right off the bat I was expecting this movie to be absolutely horrible... I do not know if it was my low expectations before the screening, but I actually enjoyed this movie very much. In order to enjoy this movie, however, you do have to somewhat detach yourself from thinking too much into the wealth of racist and crude humor contained in the movie. Nevertheless, The Dictator is satire, it is a movie making fun of the real world, and if you let it be, it makes you aware (while laughing) at the racist thoughts and stereotypes ordinary people have everyday. Yes, it has its strange and explicit scenes, but overall, I think it has substance and it was very funny. Put your "Victorian" influences aside for a night and have a good laugh. Watch it.