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Four out of Five stars
Running time: 82 mins

Sacha Baron Cohen's riotous comedy is guaranteed to offend almost everyone, but it's also genuinely hilarious from start to finish. Jagshemash!

What's it all about?
Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (Da Ali G Show) plays Borat Sagdiyev, a Kazakhstan TV reporter sent to America to make a documentary with the film's unwieldy subtitle: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. After causing chaos in New York, Borat watches an old episode of Baywatch in his hotel room and persuades his hapless producer Azamat (Ken Davitian) to embark on a cross-country trip to California, so that he can fulfil his secret dream of marrying Pamela Anderson.

Along the way Borat has several amusing encounters: he's coached in American etiquette, sings his national anthem at a rodeo, learns how to talk street and hitches a ride with some drunken frat boys. It's never entirely clear just how scripted each scene is (some are, others clearly aren't) but the results are never less than hilarious.

The Good
The promotion of the film has been exceptional with various staged stunts (such as Borat attempting to visit the Kazakhstan Ambassador) making it onto the news. Borat even has his own MySpace page, which is worth checking out for a few extra laughs.

Sacha Baron Cohen gives an astonishing comic performance, completely disappearing into the role and remaining strangely likeable, despite his jaw-droppingly offensive ignorance. For all its politically incorrect, deeply low-brow humour, the film also has a subtle point to make about true ignorance and American society in general.

The Great
The film is packed with hilarious scenes but highlights include an hysterically funny naked wrestling scene between Borat and fat, hairy Azamat and the disturbing rodeo scene where the crowd whoop and holler as Borat shouts We support your War of Terror!

Worth seeing?
In short, this is offensive on almost every level but it's also, unquestionably, one of the funniest films of the year. Highly recommended.