Borat Subsequent Moviefilm reviewed by Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode reviews Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev returns to the United States, tasked with selling off his daughter Tutar to Vice President Mike Pence.
Please tell us what you think of the film -- or Mark’s review of the film. We love to include your views on the show every Friday.
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[@tommyleekane]

I'm a minute in and Mark is already using his disappointed voice :')​

[@HeisenBird]

The issue with the Giuliani scene is if Sacha Baron Cohen can get that close to an ally of Trump's in a hotel room using what is basically a honey trap, what similar methods have Russia used on him and when?

[@Jenniferlwarm]

Its actually really good, not quite as funny as the first but the story works and the actress playing the daughter is brilliant. Some strangely sweet moments

[@CaminoAir]

I see Mark has models of Hewey, Louie and Dewey from 'Silent Running' on his bookshelf.

[@jamieb0tc]

Personally loved this film. Perfect timing. It was actually very sweet and he highlighted the worst side of humanity but also the best side too. The scene with those two sweet old Jewish ladies nearly brought me to tears. It passed the 25 laugh test for me, I agree it was cringey but then what do you expect? Jagshemesh, my name a Borat... my wife!

[@WoahLookAtThatFreak]

Not quite as funny as the first, also it was a bit predictable and didn't feel as spontaneous or irreverent as the first film, which was disappointing.

[@anthonygarvey1]

Loving the Scala microphone 😁

[@jamesflynn3278]

Not surprised Mark is in two minds on it given that he wasn't a huge fan of the first but I enjoyed it. Not as shocking as the first and as with the original it does begin to outstay its welcome just a tad but I found myself laughing more often than not.

[@jeremylynn8243]

Is JJ Abrams filming Mark? What's with the lens flare??

[@Christyring47]

Great summary Mark.. Thank you for delivering a clear and informative review.. You hit all the points and their motivations... EXACTLY how a review ought to be. Clear and unbiased.. Thank you.. I'm now subscribed to your channel.

[@HO-yc3pv]

Borat didn't need a sequel. A new character would've been much better imo.

[@stu1002]

I think it's disingenuous for someone who knows as much about film and editing as Kermode to comment on the Rudi Guliani sequence by saying "he doesn't come off at all well" without referencing the fact that scene was heavily edited to create a particular narrative and we know nothing of the context. We have no reason to believe that Guliani thought the daughter was supposed to be 15 for starters. It's not at all obvious that the sequence was recorded in the same order in which it was presented. Some sequences were clearly inserted afterwards. Also things like the audio editing. It *looks* like he sits suddenly upright on the bed when Borat calls out, but that impression is only given because that piece of audio is placed over that bit of film footage... I think to not at least caveat any comment without pointing out what Kermode knows to be true about how films are edited and movies are made is hardly fair.

[@reynoldsc]

Can someone stop JJ Abrams using his anamorphic flare techniques in Mark's video reviews please??? Although, at some points his head rests just inside the flare and it goes all very 2001: A Space Odyssey. Nice!!

[@pyjamacritic1171]

My problem with this is that the crisp lighting and sound as well as the various camera angles used makes it impossible to believe this is a hidden camera stunt and I can only see this as a scripted comedy movie. x

[@markagerman1223]

Loved the original Borat, this was woeful.

[@adampeters7947]

Yes. He's absolutely right. Satire depends on context. And we're in a different world now. People know about Trump bragging about sexual assult, they know about his association with Jeffery Epstein... and they don't care. Pretty hard to satirise

[@SinghalLouis]

Ohh boy.. this is just too good.. is a complete laugh out loud.. Just totally hilarious.. and perfect sarcasm!

[@beelzebozos]

It's thought that roughly 5-10% of people are highly susceptible to hypnotic suggestion, while upto 79% of people are considered moderately susceptible.

[@johnpelosi4117]

Mark is off here....perhaps he is simply being careful . As an American I can see how this film has hit here in a powerful way he is perhaps incapable of recognizing. Certainly no Trump Cultists will appreciate or comprehend such a Satire, that is NOT the point, what it does is remind and empower those who can, and provide much needed ammunition in the struggle against the forces in and behind this obscene Administration. The impact of this film has already completely exploded the ludicrous espionage/disinformation campaign against Biden by Ghouliani and utterly destroyed the last shreds of Rudy's credibility.

[@mixlexic]

Nice Lens flare Mark

[@ThePRCommander]

Whenever they make a sequel its their second and third best material they found it on. This movie needed a lot more work. Not saying its not funny, it is, but its not great.

[@johnbarnes888]

I wish Mark would stop revealing details if they appeared in the trailer. I have avoided trailers for fifteen years or so for many reasons, one of them being how disclosive they are

[@matthewmccaul3314]

Very Nice!

[@triffidkiller1234]

I've heard of Rudi Guiliani but have never seen his face before. I will always think of him with the image of his hands down his pants, a sad old man hoping to cop off with a bit of young tottie.

[@Jimmy-es8bc]

Kermode, dude, I'm not a Trump fan, but he's disavowed white supremacy multiple times on camera.

[@Hoscitt]

Couldn't be less interested. Entertainment should stay out of one sided political agendas

[@gobiwaq]

Nice

[@benvincent6473]

I was the 1000th like

[@tylerhaknuman1217]

I like it except the father and daughter dance scene. It’s way too much.

[@Bigbaz86]

Combat alleged racism with.......racist stereotypes?

[@scottclapperton9780]

Great review. If you ignore his CNN/MSNBC Trump nonsense

[@Jsameds]

Kerrrr..mode... un-der the rainbow

[@GGTutor1]

Gotta keep that juicy contract with the BBC

[@fabiomonteiro6664]

It was not as funny as i was expected

[@maxmt4325]

I never thought borat was funny.

[@deniskenny4643]

the father / daughter fertility dance was so gross I had to turn it off.

[@ArcadeChris]

It's ok. Nowhere near as good as the first. I wanted to see Borat. Not Borat in different disguises

[@MrShepardDog]

1.7 stars out of 5. Not as funny as the first. At all. The 'shock value' of the first movie was fresh, daring, irreverent. Here is seems forced, and fake. Cohen seems to ask: How can we increase the gross-out factor? I know! Moon blood! Was there really any need for Maria to do a dance with her period blood running down her legs? Sorry-- NOT funny. Sacha can't seem to decide whether to make a movie that is 'shocking', a comment on current American politics, or a insincere paste-up about family/human relationships. He tries for all three -- and none of them succeed. A year from now, most people will not even remember this movie. And ten years from now, no one will remember who Rudy Guiliani was, or what all the controversy was about. Don't waste your time on this one -- for pathetic, gross-out humor with a touch of cultural nostalgia, rent "The Garbage Pail Kids: the Movie" instead.

[@carljcreighton]

Trump's behavior excuses Giuliani's behavior how? lol

[@OkLetsPlayFilms]

Trump did not brag about sexual assault, that’s a very poor evaluation of what was said . Trump has disowned white supremacy many times but it is cut from videos.

[@oops6876]

Queue the cranky boomers who want politics out of their comedy. >:(

[@gomezthechimp1116]

"His non-male child" ? You mean Daughter?

[@andrewwatson6913]

It's a very disappointing film - ineffective and just not very funny. Mark is pulling his punches here.

[@jamespearce9973]

So a Democrat election movie then?

[@jayfunk5988]

In our multimedia PC world we sadly inhabit nowadays, thank f#@k for Sasha BC, Ricky G, Bill B etc

[@mixeduphouse4428]

Looks truly awful. And to see it's been released on Amazon Prime is the icing on the corporate cake.

[@holdencaulfield8429]

Richard Nixon has let himself go, good to know he still has a deaf ear for comedy tho.

[@DarrenH001]

Next time Mark calls out JJ Abrams for excessive lens flare, someone remind him of this, yeah?

[@DavidBeaumont]

I think Mark is just trolling us with his camera now.

[@robertspencer2516]

When all said and done I laughed way more at this film than any other I have seen for a long long time. I evenI needed to wipe away tears with the laughter. Yes it's crude yes it's rude and shocking but also has its warm moments. Thoroughly enjoy it.

[@gelectrox]

For some reason I think Mark looks like he's wearing a cape in a barbershop

[@meeekeeey]

Nice to see Azamat Bagatov back, I mean his front..

[@1MrBryn]

I genuinely think Maria Bakalova has given the performance of the year. People throw around the term "Fearless performance", but here it is absolutely true.

[@spa2damax]

A bit outrageous that Mark didn't touch on the fact that this is all shot in public and they have to hew a narrative out of what they get. Also having to completely change the storyline when a pandemic hits at the start of a shoot is a nightmare scenario that was pulled off quite well. It has a slow start and some bitched gags in the first half but what comes after is really great. This wasn't a review it was just a comment on the efficacy of the film to influence the election.

[@charliepanayiotou4305]

Comedy sequel in being lousy shocker, stuff like 22 Jump Street is very much the exception!

[@YjaffacakeK]

Mark has hit the nail on the head, satire has been dead since Trump

[@johnsharman7930]

Trump is beyond satire and can be very funny himself: did you see him in the 2nd debate where he pulls so many faces when Biden talks and talks in a really soft campish voice ?

[@TeaHop]

I'd be careful about judging a film on it's ability or otherwise to affect an election. As you've said it reveals some truths about America today, and if we take the scene (slight spoiler) were Borat goes on stage to sing, the readiness of the crowd to sing along to awful sentiments is striking, and apparently N**i salute. What Sacha Baron Cohen does is hold up a mirror to people whose behaviour and actions we may know about, but the level of twisted logic it goes to is still something to see candidly and to say recording it like he does in his comedies is without merit because of what we know is a little unfair.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Very Good first 15 minutes, Brilliant last 15 minutes, okay to pretty good middle hour. It does meander and drag a bit in that middle but still has a few chuckles and still very entertaining. Overrall well Very Good, and I haven't laughed at a movie so much in years. Yes, Bakalova was great, hope she wins some awards for this. 8/10

[@SaintZ42]

The Giuliani bit is the worst setup I've ever seen. I appreciate kermode admits to his bias but all that is happening is that he's taking off his mic pack that's under his shirt and tucked into his trousers. They put the sexual spin on it them selves

[@Teekaymeh]

I loved the first film, one of my favourite comedies, but barely even laughed for this one. It felt Sacha was someone else trying to rip off the original Borat. I found the film dumb, crude and had no wit whatsoever. Surely I'm not the only person who thought this film was terrible...

[@nicheman3612]

I don't know why Mark's so caught up on the film changing minds - seeing Rudy Giuliani receive a well-deserved humilation seems like a service enough to society in of itself.

[@chrismayocomedy]

Hard disagree on this one. Found it harder hitting, punchier, funnier and more shocking than the original (and I was a big fan of the first film). Maria Bakalova is outstanding in both her performance, and her fearlessness as a relative unknown. I think to have pulled all this off, mid Covid, and relatively under the radar is fantastic. I don't think it's trying to change the world, but it's definitely effective and very funny.

[@simonrodgers3278]

It's embarrassing. I'm by no means a trump fan but this was an atrocity of a film. Period.

[@TheMrKlump]

Borat is my absolute favorite film ever so I was a bit wary about a sequel and while it wasn't as funny as the first it was still great and I'm happy we got it. It was actually emotional and had character development which was surprising. Bakalova has a very bright future after this film.

[@HADDOCK23]

Hard to believe mark loved bill and Ted's latest and finds this disappointing

[@elcal9600]

this was such a poor film. very lazy, tried to be shocking but most infuriatingly it ended up wanting to be relevant and i just find that desperate.

[@ArmandD]

480p in 2020?

[@FatNorthernBigot]

That's an impressive CD collection. CD's are disks which store music.

[@ReanimatorsMutilations]

Thought it was pretty lame. The girl was really good though

[@bazzbazzley]

It's really crude, very contrived and really not very funny.

[@BaltimoreGunClubUK]

Do my eyes decieive me or is that Huey, Dewie and Louie from Silent Running lurking on the shelf in the background?! Nice!

[@EoinLenihan]

Politics got in the way. Shame. Lots of padding, set pieces not very good.

[@wolfsongmoondancer1428]

Borat gave us a good laugh in a dark time. Something can be said for that. 🤔😋😆👏

[@saulgoodman1236]

Cool

[@johnsteen156]

Perhaps Mark could let Simon finish what he is saying once in a while.

[@TheKamilkrawczak]

You had me at no-male 🤣

[@ChrisWright2000]

In a nutshell💯👌

[@justingalore123]

Great to hear Mark being so clear in his politics. Well said. As for the movie - I agree, but I think I found it a lot funnier than Mark - whilst much misses the mark, there are still loads of real belly laughs.

[@cinemar]

Borat is woke. WTF?

[@andythompson2710]

......

[@bingobriano6021]

As a lefty who hates Trump and found the film chuckle worthy, I don't see this shifting the votes. I also don't think Rudy comes off nearly as bad as they want him to. First because there is no way he thinks the interviewer is 15 and second, there clearly was a radio mic situation going on as she tries to fix it for him. Don't get me wrong, Rudy is a maniac, but I don't think they have anything on him here. If anything he comes off polite and encouraging to her.

[@VideoPortfolio2010]

The first Borat was sooooo freaking ridiculously funny. Honestly, this new one sucked. They forgot about making a funny Borat movie and focused too much on the political messaging and it just came out forced and boring. With the exception of a couple scenes it wasn't funny at all. Very disappointed.

[@johnbull9195]

He does as much to challenge bigotry as Alf Garnett

[@andrewescocia2707]

it felt a bit more like a Bruno movie in that it was brutally shocking , The Borat material is wittier imo. Also I thought it was a bit more set up than the first movie and more people knew what they where doing and played along.

[@mikeyk212]

I'd go with Trump on Borat. Bit creepy an not funny. I suppose in fairness the first time it was funny but he's been dragging out the same joke for years now

[@prod.hxrford3896]

damn borat telling people who to vote for and what to believe... what an era this is

[@nickgreg78]

Sasha pretty much helped the world get rid of the orange baboon, so thank you sir!

[@fritz2259]

I must be so out of touch I think that's the worst movie I've ever seen in my life I can't call it a movie I'm just being honest

[@michaelchadwick1818]

Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story. I don't like DT either.

[@systemofapown]

Personally, I thought it was superb. Almost on par with the first Borat - very, very funny.

[@vector409]

i don't think mel brookes reaches further than borat but what do i know

[@BarkingLondon]

The Daddy & Daughter dance... 🕺💃😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@gavinBsussex]

How is it possible that Mark likes the recent Bill and Ted film which was a complete turkey, but doesn't rate this?

[@stevetaylor2342]

The film is utter crap. Say no more

[@toolatehello3345]

This is not a funny film. Borat needs to go into lockdown

[@70sgemsconnolly34]

Yes marks review

[@mrorangepeel659]

The politics killed it - if Borat had gone for anyone regardless of who they were - democrat or republican alike then I am sure it would have been much better.

[@VoyageOne1]

No mention of the parody of "The Little Mermaid" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bonnie3447]

Hollywood trying to tell us what to do again. Just entertain us. That's your job.

[@BeerBaron73]

Wow, I didn’t expect to see so many Trump apologists on a Kermode review