Movie Review: The Dictator

Admiral General Aladeen, the leader of the fictional country Wadiya, is Sacha Baron Cohen's fourth outing as somebody that is not Sacha Baron Cohen. General Aladeen has recently come under pressure from the United Nations about his Nuclear Weapons program, and has been requested to come to New York to meet with the UN, or his country gets bombed. Once in New York, he is kidnapped by the extremely racist yet very funny John C. Reilly, and is forced into the streets without anything, anyone, or anywhere to go. In short, he must find a way to prove to the public that he really is General Aladeen, so that he can sign a new treaty to turn Wadiya into a democratic society. That's about all there is in terms of story.

The film is filled to the brim with racist and insulting one-liners, which are all very funny, because they make fun of everyone. Cohen is an equal opportunity offender. The many supporting roles in the film, including one by Anna Farris as an organic store owner who falls in love with Aladeen, are also very funny. Although being one of the most offensive and racist movies I've seen, The Dictator never fails to make you laugh, and deep down, has an even deeper message about stereotypes that exist in the country. Cohen is a genius when it comes to movies like this. Although filled with plot holes and outlandish schemes to get Aladeen back in the throne, The Dictator, so far the funniest movie I've seen this year, does not disappoint.

Rating: B+