I went into Ali G: Who Iz I? With a healthy dose of caution, as Sacha Baron Cohen’s more recent ventures haven’t exactly wowed me. Bringing back a character from the early 2000s felt like a risky move that could easily fall flat. To my relief, this return to his iconic suburban “gangsta” proved to be surprisingly solid, frequently hilarious, and gloriously ridiculous throughout.
At its core, the film functions effectively as Borat wrapped in an Ali G track jacket. The unabashedly politically incorrect humor lands with a distinct purpose, using absurd, cringe-inducing interviews to slice right through modern societal hypocrisy. Watching unsuspecting subjects navigate Ali G’s utter cluelessness reveals far more about their own prejudices and double standards than it does about the character himself.
It isn’t a flawless comeback… the narrative hits a few noticeable pacing issues in the middle act, and a handful of the jokes feel a bit recycled from his older playbook.
However, by leaning into chaotic satire and sharp social commentary, the film easily outperformed my lowered expectations and delivered a genuinely great time. 7/10.
