Sacha Baron Cohen’s new Ali G movie is brutally unfunny.
Slate • • entertainment
Key Points:
- "Ali G: Who Iz I?" marks Sacha Baron Cohen's return to unscripted comedy, reviving his controversial character Ali G, but the film struggles to deliver effective satire or humor, especially compared to his earlier work and recent documentary innovations.
- The movie features Ali G navigating personal identity and societal issues, using Cohen's typical prank style on real people, but lacks the sharpness and insightful commentary that characterized Cohen's previous projects like "Borat."
- Critics highlight the film's reliance on crude and outdated humor, including problematic jokes about race and sexuality, which fail to resonate in today's cultural climate and come off as forced rather than provocative.
- Unlike groundbreaking recent documentaries such as "You Can See Everything," which blend comedy with profound storytelling, Cohen's latest effort feels out of touch and less impactful, with audiences no longer surprised or engaged by his brand of satire.
- Overall, "Ali G: Who Iz I?" is seen as a disappointing return for Cohen, whose once-novel approach to comedy now appears stale and ineffective amid evolving audience expectations and social sensibilities.
