Sometimes, we need a mean spirited, offensive movie to put us in our place. I’m sure a lot of people are going to see “The Dictator” and get offended, try and get it banned. Some are going to call writer and actor Sacha Baron Cohen a racist. Maybe they are right. The movie is one of the most offensive I’ve seen in long time. The great thing about it is that it doesn’t single out any one race or religion.

In “The Dictator” Cohen plays the leader of a fictional country called Wadiya. He loves being a bad guy. During a trip to the U.S. where he is supposed to sign a treaty about oil, or something like that, he gets kidnapped and nearly killed. He escapes, barely, but not before he gets his trademark beard shaved off. Now he looks just like every other terrorist threat in the United States.

That’s not meant to be insulting. In the movie it just means he will go unnoticed unless people are treating him like crap. He gets taken in by Ana Faris’ character, who sees her self as an activist and wants to help this guy get back on his feet when all he wants to do is get control of his country back. He quickly learns those closest to him have betrayed him as an effort to get him out of power.

Baron Cohen has shown flashes of brilliance as an actor and this movie is a good effort for him to get away from the mockumentary type movies he’s become known for. At this point in his career he’s too well known to try any of his old tricks anyway.

The goal of this movie is to offend as many people as possible. Our society has become too politically correct. Can I just say what a ridiculous term ‘politically correct’ is? I mean give me a break. No one likes politics. What makes being politically correct the way to go?

Anyway, this movie is funny and that is all that matters. No it doesn’t have what might be defined as a great story. It’s a pretty standard fish out of water movie. But it’s also hilarious on so many levels. If someone leaves this movie and wants to get on the internet and complain, they went to the wrong movie and they should have known better when Sacha Baron Cohen is the star. Guess what? If he pisses you off, he has already won.

Read my Examiner review for “The Dictator”.