TAGGED AS: Amazon, Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Studios, movies, streaming
Is it “very nice,” as he would say? Initial reviews indicate that yes, the follow-up mostly lives up to the original in its shock and hilarity while actually surprising viewers with its tenderness and especially a scene-stealing newcomer who plays Borat’s daughter.
Here’s what critics are saying about Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm:
Every bit as hysterically funny and shockingly outrageous as its predecessor.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
A laugh-out-loud-funny sequel that’s every bit the equal of — and arguably something more than — its 2006 predecessor.
– Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
A hilarious endeavor not far removed from the hijinks and antics of its predecessor.
– Nate Adams, The Only Critic
A parody on par with the original… Borat has lost none of his bite.
– Peter Debruge, Variety
The rare comedy follow-up to equal the hilarity, and outraged power, of its predecessor.
– Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
It doesn’t have the full capacity to land like the original did, but it’s most definitely a worthy follow-up.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
Is Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm as good as the original? No. It’s certainly not. It isn’t really in the same league. But is that even really a fair question?
– Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
Falls short of its imperfect but zeitgeist-grabbing 2006 predecessor in several ways.
– John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter
(Photo by ©Amazon)
Does Borat still say “mai waif,” and is it still funny? The answer, for the most part, is yes.
– Jon Dieringer, Screen Slate
All you want to do is see Borat cause chaos…. When he does so, it’s still pretty spectacular.
– Kyle Pinion, ScreenRex
The film is entertaining, but that’s what you’d expect from Cohen. However, the film can’t escape from its lack of originality.
– Dewey Singleton, AwardsWatch
Borat 2 is largely the same design, slightly tweaked for a modern age, but never as politically or socially relevant as you’d expect.
– Rodrigo Perez, The Playlist
It’s applied more purposefully and selectively this time around, with a partisan political bent absent from the original feature’s free-for-all offending.
– Charles Bramesco, Little White Lies
More than half of the film’s gotcha scenes feature him donning cartoonishly “American” disguises… Even with this hindrance, Borat’s central gimmick continues to work astoundingly well.
– Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
What elevates moments of the sequel above the original movie is that there are sketches that prove to be endearing.
– Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
There is actual heart in this film… It adds a compelling tonal complexity to the piece that also enhances the themes without getting in the way of the comedy.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
Unlike the first movie, this outrageous sequel actually manages to show off the best [that humanity has to offer] as well.
– Charlie Ridgeley, ComicBook.com
(Photo by ©Amazon)
Offensive, frequently shocking and often breathtaking… for Borat fans, that’ll be very nice. For anyone else, you need to stay as far away as possible because it’s not for you.
– Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
There are a couple of cringe-worthy moments, depending on how much of Cohen’s crude humor you’re willing to put up with.
– Matt Rodriguez, Shakefire
I haven’t laughed this hard at a film in years… [It] contains one of the funniest sequences ever committed to film.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
It’s every bit as nerve-wracking as it is funny, and it happens to be one of the funniest films in years.
– Charlie Ridgeley, ComicBook.com
Those on Cohen’s wavelength will savor each of these 96 minutes, with a joke rate that blows even Airplane! out of the water.
– Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
There’s no limit to how far Cohen will go, and while it’s funny, it’s also terrifying knowing that there are people out there who truly believe his character.
– Matt Rodriguez, Shakefire
Maria Bakalova is everything that the movie needs.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
Matching Cohen for each pound of flesh, Bakalova is a revelation.
– Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
Brilliant… She brings a freshness that is sometimes lacking from Borat’s repeated catchphrases.
– Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
One of the most fearless performances in screen comedy history.
– Charles Bramesco, Little White Lies
Baron Cohen’s film also contains a strong feminist message thanks to the introduction of the brilliant newcomer Marina Bakalova.
– Linda Marric, The Jewish Chronicle
(Photo by ©Amazon)
The film’s meat-and-potatoes candid camera stunts are more of a mixed bag.
– Jon Dieringer, Screen Slate
Scripted scenes together don’t work quite as well as when they’re pranking people.
– Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
I found myself disappointed by the relative lack of Cohen’s unscripted brilliance.
– Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
The dispiriting truth is that Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm’s staged pranks can’t compete with our awful reality.
– Josh Larsen, LarsenOnFilm
It’s important to acknowledge that in an era of deep fakes, it’s not always clear what Baron Cohen got away with and what has been shaped in the editing room.
– Peter Debruge, Variety
The ending of the film is jaw-dropping. I’m not exaggerating when I say this. My mouth was absolutely agape… It’s a third act you’ve got to see to believe.
– Kyle Pinion, ScreenRex
Nothing can prepare you for what they’ve delivered, particularly a riotous third act that genuinely left me in hysterics.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
Watching it, your brain turns into an exclamation point.
– Sonia Saraiya, Vanity Fair
The film’s climactic moment is like shooting fish in a barrel.
– Adam Graham, Detroit News
Feels in bad taste, even by Borat’s standards… It’s the sequel’s big misstep and feels unnecessary.
– Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
(Photo by )
The George W. Bush era needed a Borat, and the Trump years make him painfully redundant.
– John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter
We don’t need Cohen to show us the underbelly anymore; you only need YouTube or a family dinner nowadays.
– Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
Baron Cohen delivers a biting satire that says more about the state of America than practically anything else this year… This is precisely the film we need right now.
– Doug Jamieson, The Jam Report
It does go far enough to try and prove that even those we see as “too far gone” can have a change of mind and heart… We really should’ve listened to him the first time around.
– Charlie Ridgeley, ComicBook.com
Amid all of the insanity of 2020, it’s incredible that Borat 2 actually got made – and we’re lucky we did because it is the movie we need right now.
– Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
[It’s] exactly what we all need right now.
– Linda Marric, The Jewish Chronicle
Borat: Subsequent Moviefilm will debut on Amazon Prime on October 26, 2020.
On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.
