Ali G: Who Iz I? review - Sacha Baron Cohen’s high-stakes satire punches up and down with spectacular bad taste

Key Points:

• The new Ali G sequel is broader and crasser than the original, combining crude humor with satirical hoaxes targeting anti-woke free speech advocates and cultural appropriation critics, but it often struggles with bad taste and uneven comedy.
• Unlike the 2002 original, this film lacks a cohesive narrative, instead presenting a series of stunts and pranks involving new characters like Erran Morad and Dr. Nira Cain-N’Degrocello, culminating in a chaotic climax with body doubles and covert reshoots.
• The film frequently breaks the fourth wall to clarify who is in on the joke, highlighting the challenge that a new generation largely does not recognize Ali G or Baron Cohen’s earlier work, diminishing the character’s impact.
• The plot centers on a washed-up Ali G trying to revive his career amid a farcical scheme involving a fake Mexican terrorist threat, but the film falls short of delivering the sharp satirical punches seen in Baron Cohen’s previous Borat sequel.
• Overall, Ali G feels outdated and less relevant compared to other comedic revivals like David Brent or Alan Partridge, with much of its humor likely to find a second life in short social media clips rather than as a sustained cinematic success.