Brüno

Rating: ***/*****, or 6/10

Sacha Baron Cohen mindlessly repeats his success of Borat by appropriating the same type of narrative set-up to his other infamous character, the excessively explicitly gay German fashion designer Brüno. First introducing Brüno in his natural environment at a fashion show turned awry, he's taken out of his element when banned from the fashion industry, after which his lover leaves him and he travels to America to become famous once more, insulting most conceivable minorities in the process in a series of loosely attached sketches. Whereas this approach led to great results in Borat, in the case of Brüno it leads to a distinct feeling of 'been there, done that'. What's more, the cheap gay jokes simply are not as original or as outrageous as Borat's repertoire and many miss their mark. However, there's still plenty to enjoy for at least one decent watch, including Brüno adopting a coloured baby he names O.J., visiting a swinger club to take advise on how to become straight and interviewing parents all too eager to let their child break through in show business about a role for their kids in a scene involving heavy antiquated machinery and Nazi uniforms. Filled with every thinkable cliché involving homosexuals, a lot of them simply cringy worthy, gay people had best ignore this flick.

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten, Clifford Baňagale

Directed by Larry Charles

USA: Universal Pictures, 2009

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Rating: ****/*****, or 8/10

Hilarious, subversive and playful comedy about a journalist from Kazakhstan, Borat Sagdiyev (undoubtedly Sacha Baron Cohen's most memorable character), who is sent by his government to the 'U, S and A' to make a report on life in its various aspects in the greatest country of the world, together with his short tempered and less than enthusiastic producer Azamat. On a trip across the country, traveling from one great sketch to another, Borat falls in love with Pamela Anderson (after seeing her only once on TV) and aims to track her down and marry her the Kazakh way, whether she likes to or not. Though the scenes in Borat's village in Kazakhstan are quite obviously staged (to great comedic effect), since such a wonderfully silly place just can't exist anywhere, the question remains just how much of the American part of the film is for real, as Borat interviews many different average Americans and manages to get great reactions out of his subjects, most feeling very natural and many of them quite disturbing, but all of them the object of very funny, often completely politically incorrect gags involving every conceivable minority out there (Jews, gypsies, coloured people, women, homosexuals, prostitutes, etc.): if Cohen didn't happen to be Jewish himself, it's likely he wouldn't have gotten away with the stunts he pulls here, though after the success of this film (both in terms of reception and box office) he got into many a lawsuit for his outrageous behavior regardless. The funniest scenes of this film include the 'Running of the Jew' event in Borat's home town, Borat singing the Kazakhstan national anthem on the melody of the American national anthem at a rodeo in front of hundreds of conservative flag waving American citizens, and a fight between Borat and Azamat in the nude in a hotel that goes on for much longer than is comfortable to anyone. Cohen would repeat the formula verbatim in 2009 with the much less impressive and fairly predictable Brüno.

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Luenell

Directed by Larry Charles

USA: Four By Two Production, 2006

And Now for Something Completely Different

Rating ***/*****, or 7/10

Monty Python's attempt to break into the American market resulted in this feature length compilation of sketches from the first two seasons of their hit show Monty Python's Flying Circus, though the picture failed to win the hearts of America (but at least it did well enough in the UK itself). However, it's still well worth a watch for both Python fans and average viewers alike, thanks to the sheer fact most of these sketches remain ever so funny. Plus, all of the classic sketch material was reshot so it's not exactly identical to the source material, though it features many of the same jokes. And of course there's a few new scenes too. Classic sketches appearing in a new form in this film include the Dead Parrot sketch, the Upper Class Twit of the Year sketch and the brilliant Lumberjack Song. Though great fun, this movie doesn't come close to the utter hilarity of the later “real” Monty Python films.

Starring: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman

Directed by Ian MacNaughton

UK: Columbia Pictures Corporation, 1971

Amazon Women on the Moon

Rating ***/*****, or 6/10

Bizarre mix of sketches spoofs 1950s sci-fi flicks, the American advertisement industry and basically any other popcultural imagery around. The comedic effects range from absolute hilarity to obscenely large question marks in viewers' minds. As a whole, the plot, if there can be considered to be such a thing, revolves around a television station broadcasting a ridiculous low budget film called Amazon Women on the Moon, which due to technical faults gets interspersed with advertisement, refurbished scenes of classic films and generally random silliness. Often considered a sequel to the equally grotesque Kentucky Fried Movie (1977). The most memorable scenes include Son of the Invisible Man, a teenager outed as buying condoms and becoming an unwilling spokesperson for the condom industry and Jack the Ripper speculated to have been the Loch Ness monster.

Featuring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Joe Pantoliano, Rosanna Arquette

Directed by Joe Dante, Carl Gottlieb

USA: Universal Pictures, 1987