Sacha Baron Cohen has just given birth to General Aladeen, another outrageous personality in his latest character comedy, The Dictator. The British comedian continues to export his brand of risque, politically incorrect, fish-out-water comedy to the Americas, continuing the legacy of Ali G, Borat and Bruno.

The Dictator tells the story of Wadiya’s General Aladeen, one of the world’s last remaining dictators, whose rule is threatened when an impostor seeks to bring democracy to his “beloved” country. While the premise is fresh, original, funny and timely – Sacha Baron Cohen, director Larry Charles and his team of writers have played it safe, essentially blending Green Card, Don’t Mess with the Zohan and Four Lions.

Sacha Baron Cohen is charming enough to carry the eccentric character in all his transitions and is supported by Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley and Jason Mantzoukas. Faris is cute as Zoey, opening herself up to insults as a Dharma type contrast character and romance gimmick. Ben Kingsley has a stern quality, but basically delivers a glorified cameo as Tamir. While Jason Mantzoukas is a complex sidekick to Aladeen, completing the comic duo in a Pinky & The Brain dynamic.

“What a performance, even better than Transformers 2!”

Aladeen’s dictatorial political status is ridiculed and bookends The Dictator, setting up his evil empire with a few pot shots at the correlation between dictators and celebrity culture only to address the audience with a funny, poignant and subversive speech. The body of the film is dedicated to Aladeen’s anonymity and obscurity as an immigrant, as a sideline romance ensues with a complete opposite, and his plan to recoup his identity unfurls with help from an old colleague.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s films follow a similar trajectory: taking an alien character out of their depths and reveling in inappropriate comedy, social irreverence and risque shock value. These comedic ventures are more hit than miss, but the visuals and writing are dense enough to almost warrant a repeat viewing. It’s no secret, Sacha Baron Cohen movies are a guilty pleasure and not for everyone, testament to the 16LNSPV rating. While Cohen prods his audience, the uncomfortable experience is tempered by a camp, over-the-top and warped tongue-in-cheek reality.

“…this disguise, even Vanilla Ice would blush.”

Learning to “fish”, uterus romance, midair terrorist talk, execute orders and the benefits of being a dictator form some of the most indelible moments from The Dictator. Then there are some funny cameos from Megan Fox, Ed Norton and John C. Reilly, and a selection of Wadiyan music adaptations ranging from R.E.M.’s Everybody Hurts to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. It really is a mixed bag of ridiculous, underwritten by smart satire.

The Dictator may not be as funny or acerbic as Four Lions, but it certainly slips in a cut above Adam Sandler’s Don’t Mess with the Zohan movie. Sacha Baron Cohen has taken aspects from his previous characters and blended them into The Dictator, creating something borrowed, yet something new. It’s what you’d expect from Sacha Baron Cohen in a performance and character, who isn’t as polished as Borat, Bruno or even Ali G. The usual sensational sexuality and celebrity obsession comedy is there… it’s just tweaked by its political agenda of baiting and exposing hypocrisy.

The bottom line: “Aladeen”

Release Date: 6 July, 2012
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