Blu-ray Review: Sacha Baron Cohen is Fearless in Inconsistent ‘The Dictator’

CHICAGO – Sacha Baron Cohen is undeniably fearless. He is the kind of voice we need in mainstream comedy — someone who is willing to go to any extreme for a joke. At his best, he’s one of the most creative and intelligent comedians alive. However, he’s been unable recently to deliver consistent films as “Bruno” disappointed and “The Dictator,” recently released on Blu-ray and DVD, has some very funny moments but wears out its welcome at even a short running time.

Rating: 2.5/5.0

Cohen’s consistency of character and very clever line readings make much of “The Dictator” entertaining but the big set-pieces like Cohen being beaten with giant breasts or answering a phone that’s actually in a woman’s vagina? Those fall remarkably flat. I love Cohen in small doses and he and Larry Charles figured out how to string together those moments into something brilliant in “Borat” but I’m starting to wonder if it will ever happen again. And the overall impression of “The Dictator” isn’t assisted by a serious lack of special features. I really want Cohen to succeed but this one just misses the mark.

The Dictator was released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 21, 2012
Photo credit: Paramount

Synopsis:

Click here to buy “The Dictator” [14]

From the creators of Borat comes the hilarious story of a North African dictator (Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat, Bruno, Da Ali G Show) who, on a visit to New York, is stripped of his power and forced to get a real job at a Brooklyn health food store.

Special Features
o Theatrical And Unrated Versions Of The Film
o Deleted And Extended Scenes

[15]	By BRIAN TALLERICO [16] Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com [15]