Der Diktator (2012)

Der Diktator: Directed by Larry Charles. With Sacha Baron Cohen, Sayed Badreya, Rocky Citron, Liam Campora. The heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

“The non-stop jokes, off-color humor, slapstick and under 90 minute running time of u0026quot;The Dictatoru0026quot; hearkens back to early Woody Allen gems like u0026quot;Whatu0026#39;s Up Tiger Lily,u0026quot; u0026quot;Take The Money and Run,u0026quot; u0026quot;Bananas,u0026quot; and u0026quot;Love and Death. And, in the world of comedy, thatu0026#39;s quite a compliment.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLike Cohen, Allenu0026#39;s first films were often misunderstood. Some folks just did not get the joke. Many still donu0026#39;t get it today. The object of comedy has always been to take down the high and mighty by whatever means necessary. And, if you happen to be a Middle Eastern despot, you will find much to be offended by here. But, as Allen often did as well, Cohen uses racial and gender stereotypes to shine a light on peopleu0026#39;s attitudes, and thatu0026#39;s likely to put off others as well. Thatu0026#39;s fine. Some comedy just isnu0026#39;t for everyone.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile his writing style owes much to Allen, his acting chops are also influenced heavily by one of Britainu0026#39;s greatest comics, Peter Sellers. You can see it in his outrageous accents and in his ridiculous pratfalls. Like Sellers, Cohen is fearless in his characterizations and, again, like Sellers, there will be those who will take offense in this. Again, not for everyone. But, if you laughed your butt off at Sellersu0026#39; simpleton Indian character destroying a Hollywood party, you will be laughing here too.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd thatu0026#39;s what weu0026#39;re talking about; laughs. Not every joke works. Many fall flat. But the film starts off fast and furious with a rapid succession of gags, most of which work hilariously, settles down for a bit and then takes off again, literally. His verbal sparring with co-star Jason Mantzoukas is one of the highlights as are many of the fun cameo appearances and a running joke about his name that I will not reveal here. There are many great sight gags that are easily missed and the appearance of his Efawadh character at the U.N. channels a scene right out of Allenu0026#39;s u0026quot;Sleeper.u0026quot; Thereu0026#39;s a few scatological and sex jokes also (one about excrement, one about urination, one about masturbation, several about body parts), and these, if you ask me, are the low point of the film (except a child birth scene thatu0026#39;s as funny as it is outrageous). But, the bodily fluid gags, so rampant in comedy films today, are actually few and far between. And thereu0026#39;s a bit of a message, too.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWeu0026#39;re not dealing with u0026quot;Citizen Kaneu0026quot; here. But, then, this film made me laugh much more.”