The
Dictator is stupid. I mean this in every sense of the word. The movie is
stupid. The character is stupid. The idea of this movie is stupid. The film tells
the story of General Aladeen (Cohen), a dictator who thinks he rules his
kingdom with an iron fist, when actually the entire country knows him to be an
evil, bumbling moron. (Sound familiar?) He comes to the United States to make a
speech to the UN regarding his nation of Wadiya's weapons of mass destruction.
Upon arrival, he is double-crossed by his friend and colleague Tamir (Kingsley). Stripped of his title and ignorant of stateside culture, Aladeen is forced to
live the life of a Muslim immigrant. Along his journey to reclaim his oppressor
title, he meets several people with whom he bonds, including Zoey (Faris), a
liberal, hairy-armpitted organic-food-loving shop owner. (She is this movie's
saving grace.) And oh look"”things turn topsy-turvy, and wacky antics ensue.
Larry
Charles's The Dictator attempted to
satirize the circus that is world politics but instead gave us a poorly plotted
storyline sprinkled with Adam Sandler-esque humor. This film's idea had the
capability to be something of merit, a lampoon of a journey through the dog-and-pony-show
of government. Alternatively, it was a watered-down spoof that your average,
American consumer could love. Sure, I laughed at the timing of a few actors
(Katherine Zahn and Edward Norton were among the cameos), but on the whole I
found myself bored, unimpressed, and not nearly as offended as I should have
been. I mean come on"”the world expects great things from Sacha Baron Cohen"”but
if you're going into this flick expecting Borat,
you will be horribly, deeply, painfully disappointed.
