Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G Sequel: A Shocking Experiment in Extremism
Sacha Baron Cohen returns as Ali G in a polarizing new film. Policy Wire examines the shocking, controversial stunts that define this strange sequel.
POLICY WIRE — London, UK — Sacha Baron Cohen has revived his iconic Ali G persona for a new feature, Who Iz I?, which attempts to transplant the character into real-world scenarios using the guerrilla-style tactics popularized by Borat. While the film largely struggles to find its comedic footing, it features a singular, jarring sequence that stands out as its most significant contribution.
The film’s most effective moment occurs within the first few minutes, featuring archival footage from Da Ali G Show where the character asks astronaut Buzz Aldrin if humans will ever walk on the sun. Beyond this brief, 23-year-old clip, the remainder of the 90-minute runtime fails to replicate that level of spontaneous mischief.
Who Iz I? follows the fictional rudeboy as he navigates a career crisis fueled by modern cancellation culture. The narrative is a meta-referential spin-off of Baron Cohen’s 2018 Showtime series Who Is America?, incorporating characters like the parody professor Dr. Nira Cain-N’Degeocello and the former Mossad operative Erran Morad.
The film’s structure relies on pitting these characters against unsuspecting members of the public. However, the interactions often feel staged or lack the genuine surprise that defined Baron Cohen’s earlier successes. In one instance, religious leaders walk out of a presentation after being shown a crude AI-generated rap video, a reaction that feels entirely predictable.
The film’s third act shifts into darker territory when Dr. Nira recruits real-life individuals into a fictional militia led by Erran Morad. The participants agree to a kidnapping plot involving the character Julie, played by Morgana Robinson. In a disturbing sequence, the men assist in a staged birth and subsequently agree to transport the infant to Mexico to prevent it from claiming citizenship, even participating in a simulated act of dropping the baby from a drone.
While the sequence is undeniably shocking, it highlights the film’s cynical approach to political satire. The character of Dr. Nira serves as a caricature of progressivism, often utilizing straw-man arguments that feel disconnected from reality. The film’s muddled political messaging, including the contradictory pairing of a pro-Palestine aesthetic with an ex-Mossad agent, leaves the audience with little beyond a sense of profound discomfort.
Ultimately, Who Iz I? demonstrates that Baron Cohen retains the capacity to provoke, yet the film lacks the humanity or consistent humor required to justify its methods. The production is currently scheduled for a limited three-day theatrical release.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
