Hey folks, Harry here with what sounds like a break out British comedy, that hopefully we'll be able to see sooner... rather than later... Don't want to keep ya from it, so here ya go.....
Hey Harry! Big up to you and the whole crew down at Geek Headquarters. One of your loyal British fans chiming in to give you the skinny on a little British film that may have what it takes to make it to your side of the Atlantic. I managed to miss your book signing visit to London when my Dad decided to ruin my life and let his 60th birthday fall on the same day as your publicity visit to our great capital. I still have not forgiven him.
Ok, two days ago, I saw what could possibly be one of the most successful British Comedy Films, since the Full Monty. This film is based on one of the newest and brightest stars of the British comedy scene. This titan of comedy could soon join the British comedy elite. You thought that British comedy was tame, bizarre and altogether totally unfunny? [Fawlty Towers and Monty Python being notable exceptions.] Well you were completely right- till you see this film. Who is this comedian you ask? Three words:
Ali G.
To fully understand the film comedy ALI G IN DA HOUSE, a little back story must be provided. He is a British phenomenon, but people outside of Britain may recognise him as the limo driver in Madonna's "Music" Video. In 1998, a TV News Satire show was broadcast in Great Britain, called the 11 O'clock show. It aired late at night and was supposed to be a witty and subversive look at news events. It failed. However, the part of the show that was funny, was the series of interviews by Ali G.
Describing what made Ali G so funny, is difficult. In the show, he interviewed politicians, senior police officers, academics and activists. What they all had in common, was a serious issue that they were to supposedly discuss with the fictional character. [I assume that Channel 4 who aired the show, told these interviewees that Ali G was a presenter of a youth show.] But in actual fact, he was there to ridicule both the interviewee, their "cause" and himself, in a very clever and subversive way. This is because the Ali G character is a wannabe gangster. He is almost a wigger. He wears Fubu Urban wear, talks with a strange accent and is obsessed with sex, marijuana and black culture. However its is clear he is nothing like the image he tries to project. He is also unbelievably stupid. This is the heart of the comedy. The person who takes on the Ali G persona [Sacha Baron Cohen] is so convincing, that his interviewees at the time did'nt realise that this character was not rea! l and so they seriously answered questions that are totally ridiculous and very funny. Here are some examples:
Interview about religion. [The Bishop of Corsham]
Ali: "Does he really have a beard?"
Bishop:"It's not that he's got a beard, it's the sort of person Jesus was."
Ali: "Is he a man or is he a woman?"
Bishop:"He's neither a man nor woman."
Ali: "Is he a... ladyman?"
Interview about women‚s rights [Sue Leece, Campaigner]
Ali: "A lot of boys me know is trying to get their girlfriends into feminism, do you that is right?"
Sue: "Yes, I do actually I think it's a good thing."
Ali: "Do you think all girls should try feminism at least once?"
Sue: "Well girls today often don't realise how much they've benefited from feminism..."
Ali: "But do you think it is right when they try feminism when they is drunk at a party or whatever with a few mates?"
Sue: "What does 'trying feminism' mean?"
Ali: "You know, try a bit of feminism and when they is sober the next day they get back together with their boyfriends?"
Sue: "I don't understand what you mean by 'get feminist?'"
Ali: "When they kiss a women."
Sue: "What, being lesbian, are you talking about, sexually?"
Ali: "... Aieee, for real."
Ali: "Me uncle Jamal, he says he is tri-sexual. He will try anything sexual. What does that mean?"
Sue: "There are a lot of people, you know, who would agree that they are... that they would like having sexual relationships with men and with women."
Ali: "So you is saying that you think that he has done it with men?"
Sue: "Or doing it."
Ali: "Ai?"
Sue: "Um, well, it would suggest that from that... or that he is interested in it, don't know that he would have done it. Depends what 'done it' means."
Ali: "So you think me uncle Jamal is a... batty boy?"
Sue: "No, I don't think he is a batty boy actually, but..."
Ali: "But you think me uncle Jamal like it in both pipes?"
Sue: "I think he's probably, uh, making a joke."
Ali: "For real. So it probably a joke? It ain't a necessarily. 'Cos he is a joker."
Sue: "Yes, I think he's a joker."
Ali: "If you called him that to his face he'd probably kill you."
As you can see, its pretty controversial humour. But it works. It may not come across on the page, but when you watch it, the brilliance of the Ali G persona shines through. Again the interviewees were completely unaware of the set-up, due to the conviction with which the character is played. I suppose they just viewed him as a rather unintelligent individual.
Eventually Ali G became so popular, that he eclipsed the rather bad 11 O‚clock show and he was given his very own show. There the interviews with gullible and out of touch individuals, were interlaced with interviews with minor celebrities, as well as a few sketches.
Now in 2002, Ali G hits the big screen. [Well in the UK anyway] And to be honest the film is bad. However, its also incredibly funny. Sacha Baron Cohen manages to take the character from his small screen home and birthplace and send him on a „wicked‰ holiday to the silver screen. Make no mistake though. This isn‚t high brow British humour. This is gross out humour of its lowest kind. In order for the Ali G movie to be funny, the format had to be completely changed. It‚s a huge risk that doesn‚t always pay off. Ali G was controversial before, but even the loudest naysayer had to admit to the cleverness of the setup. All the interviews are gone and we are left with some funny situational comedy and some disturbing gross-out gags.
The film‚s plot (merely acknowledging that it has one is a very generous move on the part of the viewer) centres around Staines, the beloved home Town of Ali that he believes is an urban Jungle like South Central LA or Crompton. Its clear to us the audience that its merely a tame suburb. Anyway when Ali G finds out that the beloved Leisure Centre where he teaches young kids to be as cool as he thinks he is closes down to be demolished, he sets in motion a train of hilarious events that lead him to become the Member of Parliament for Staines and eventually the right hand man to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Although the jokes sometimes miss, I found myself with a smile on my face from beginning to end. I was quite surprised that it managed to work as a movie, but I feel it did.
Among all the jokes, Sacha Baron Cohen manages to make Ali G a likeable and sincere character; behind Ali‚s attempts to „Keep it real‰ which of course he is not doing, by trying to be some-one else. Also of note is the supporting cast who can often fall flat in films of this nature that centre around one comedy character. The person who surprised me the most, was the model Rhona Mitra who some of you may remember as the first real life model to be Lara Croft. As well as being stunningly beautiful on screen, she also manages to do some pretty good acting. This is even more striking when compared to the efforts of a more famous British model whose cameo acting efforts are far less worthy. Charles Dance and Michael Gambon, who were the deputy prime minister and prime minister respectively, were also adequate considering the roles they had. The pumping sound track is made up of a rich amalgamation of R N B, Hip-Hop, Drum and Bass as well as some UK 2 step, given it quite a sharp! urban edge.
So should you go see this film? Yes. [Though if you live outside of the Britain, you may have a long wait.] There are a few considerations though. Don‚t go and see this if you can only sit through serious films. If so this film is not for you. Not only is the content juvenile to the point of incredulity, but some of the editing and comic timing is so appalling that even I cringed. Usually if I enjoy a film, those things don‚t ever enter my mind. But this baby is edited in such a way, that the plot holes and weird pacing may put off the most liberal film viewer. But if you can remove your appreciation for the art of filmmaking long enough to just immerse yourself in the jokes, you may just like it
-McBane-
LINKS
ALi G in america -> CLICK HERE
ALi G in general -> CLICK HERE CLICK HERE
Ali G Trailer -> CLICK HERE
More Ali G quotes -> CLICK HERE
Controversial Ali G -> CLICK HERE
