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The Dictator: Ruled by Tasteless but Funny Jokes

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:00:23 PDT

Full disclosure: I laughed out loud many times during The Dictator, knowing full well that I should have been offended instead. But what you see is what you get when it comes to Sacha Baron Cohen, and after movies like Bruno and Borat, you already know whether you'll be able to find humor in film about a horrifyingly ignorant world leader who's as naive, racist, and prejudiced as they come.

I know that sounds hard to swallow, but there is a big difference between The Dictator and Cohen's previous work: this time, it doesn't even feel remotely real. Whereas Borat and Bruno are made to taunt and embarrass what appear to be unsuspecting, everyday people, there's no mistaking The Dictator for what it is: a total farce that comes complete with actors you've seen before. It may sound obvious, but having Cohen's Aladeen interact with the likes of Ben Kingsley, Anna Faris, and John C. Reilly makes the whole story easier to digest - and much easier to laugh at in spite of yourself.

To see what else I enjoyed about The Dictator, just

At the core, The Dictator is really a fish-out-of water comedy, just taken to staggeringly inappropriate levels. Aladeen has ruled his North African country, Wadiya, since he was a small child, and in many ways, he's never grown up. While he's busy ordering execution for anyone that rubs him the wrong way (including the engineer that couldn't make his nuclear weapon pointy enough), his uncle Tamir (Kingsley) is the one that's really making the decisions about how the country should be run. Predictably, Tamir turns on Aladeen and seizes power during a trip to NYC, leaving Aladeen lost, penniless, and unrecognizable on the streets of the Big Apple.

The Dictator then turns into a bizarre romantic comedy, as Aladeen befriends a crunchy protester named Chloe (Anna Faris), who he initially mistakes for a boy. Chloe gives Aladeen his first job in her organic whole foods store, which opens a Pandora's box of jokes about the irony of a world leader wearing a hairnet. Meanwhile, Aladeen hatches a plan to bring down his uncle, and somewhere along the way, you start rooting for the same guy that suggests aborting a baby because it's not a boy.

I'm not saying that The Dictator is sophisticated by any means, or even groundbreaking as a comedy. Cohen spares us no expense of crude humor that pushes the envelope (and literally takes us inside a woman's birth canal), and if you're not a fan for Cohen's brand of humor, you'll probably walk out of the theater before you even get there. But if you've ever found his antics to be funny before, chances are you will again - even if you're slightly embarrassed to admit it when the credits roll.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Sacha Baron Cohen Joins Mom-to-Be Anna Faris at The Dictator's Debut

Lindsay Miller — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:30:23 PDT

Sacha Baron Cohen attended this evening's London premiere of The Dictator in character as the ruthless, but comical leader he plays in the movie. Sacha has been keeping up the act as his alter ego Admiral General Aladeen while doing press for his latest film, and even stopped by Saturday Night Live in NYC over the weekend to crack a few jokes during "Weekend Update." Sacha's wife Isla Fisher and his costar Anna Faris also stepped out for the debut of the project. It's an especially major month for Anna. The Dictator hits theaters this weekend, and Anna and her husband Chris Pratt are expecting their first child. The duo announced the happy news earlier this week and said the baby is due this Fall.

Anna Faris and Chris Pratt Are Expecting a Baby!

Meghan Rooney — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:12:20 PDT

Anna Faris: How Sun Damage Made Me Change My Ways

Jaime Richards — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:36:00 PDT

How can you not love Anna Faris? She made us laugh in films such as The House Bunny, Lost in Translation, and the Scary Movie franchise, and now there's something else to love. Anna is partnering with Jergens to help raise funds for the Skin Cancer Foundation as the face of the beauty brand's Places You'll Glow campaign. Anna admits she hasn't always practiced safe sunning in the past, but after a makeup artist called her out on it, she's changed her tanning-bed ways. To see what Anna had to say about her role in helping to fight skin cancer, along with her favorite backstage-beauty tip, just keep reading.

Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, and Jimmy Fallon Laugh It Up and Challenge People's Sexiest at GQ

Molly Goodson — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:12:49 PST

GQ Men of the Year 2011 Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, and Jay-Z engaged in a light-hearted and gesture-filled conversation inside the magazine's award ceremony bash at the Chateau Marmont in LA last night. The dapper guys mingled with the crowd and even posed for funny pictures with Justin's date Jessica Biel. On the red carpet Jay-Z was asked whether he and the rest of the men of the year could take down the crew from People's Sexiest Man Alive issue starring Bradley Cooper. Jay responded, "I'll take on the whole entire cast of Parks and Recreation. I'll leave Justin to take care of Glee and Jimmy Fallon could karate-chop the rest of those guys." Jimmy followed up by saying that their one female MOTY Mila Kunis could certainly hold her own, "I think Mila Kunis could take some people out if she wanted to."

Fellow honoree Michael Fassbender smoked a cigar and buddied up to director Eli Roth while Jon Hamm stayed cozy in a scarf and next to his longtime love Jennifer Westfeldt. Michael's acclaimed new movie Shame hits theaters in two weeks and in it he joins the ranks of actors who've gone full-frontal nude in movies.

Check out tons of pictures from inside the party including Anna Faris, Chris Pratt, Kerry Washington, Zooey Deschanel, and more.

Watch, Pass, or Rent Video Review: What's Your Number?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:30:12 PDT

Anna Faris and Chris Evans team up for new romantic comedy What's Your Number?, but do they sizzle on the big screen together? Watch our video review to find out if this one will put you in the mood for love - or put a bad taste in your mouth.

Anna Faris Shares Her Number on Anderson, but Doesn't Know Her Hubby's!

Tara Block — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:12:00 PDT

In What's Your Number, out today, Anna Faris's heroine is ashamed of her number of sexual partners and decides to give them another shot to prevent going over the 20-mark. But in reality the actress's number is much lower, and she's not ashamed to share it with the world! Her husband, actor Chris Pratt (who plays one of her exes in the movie), isn't quite as open. Watch Anna tell Anderson Cooper about what happened when she asked her husband what his number is and find out how many sexual partners she's had! What do you think about sharing your number?

What's Your Number?: Just Doesn't Add Up

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:30:00 PDT

In the opening scene of What's Your Number, Ally (Anna Faris) slips out of bed to adequately primp for that "Don't I naturally look amazing in the morning?" glow and return before her boyfriend du jour even notices she's gone. If that sounds familiar to you, it's because almost the exact same scene was featured in Bridesmaids. Though we can write that off to unfortunate coincidence, the rest of What's Your Number? continues to borrow so much from other films that the romantic comedy ultimately drowns in overused clichés.

The attractive neighbors-who-will-obviously-fall-in-love here are Ally, an unlucky but optimistic woman who has a dated a string of losers, and Colin, an overgrown frat boy who brings new meaning to the term "love 'em and leave 'em." When the latest issue of Marie Claire informs Ally that her number of lovers is above average and means she's in danger of ever finding "the one," she decides to try again with all of her exes instead of letting her number go higher than 20. After one hilarious, wine-induced failed attempt to track down the guys on the Internet, Colin offers his sleuthing skills in exchange for using Ally's apartment as his personal hideout from his one-night stands. What ensues is a predictable, by-the-book romantic comedy that is barely salvaged by Faris and Evans's chemistry and a long list of inspired supporting players.

To see what else I thought about What's Your Number?, just keep reading.

Anna Faris and Chris Evans Talk Skinny Dipping and Lying About Their "Number"

PopSugar — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:37:24 PDT

Chris Evans takes a crack at romantic comedies starring opposite funny lady Anna Faris in their new film What's Your Number?. We sat down with the pair, along with their costars Chris Pratt and Anthony Mackie, recently and they revealed what it was like jumping into the Boston harbor naked and the similarities they share with their romantically challenged characters. Watch our interview with Anna, Chris, Anthony Mackie, and Chris Pratt and be sure to catch What's Your Number? when it hits theaters this Friday.

Anna Faris on How to Keep Your Daughter a Virgin

Tara Block — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:26:00 PDT

Anna Faris may play a promiscuous young woman in her upcoming film What's Your Number? and have a Playboy bunny character in her past, but back when she was a teenager her roles weren't so sexy. Anna told David Letterman last night that as a chubby teen she was cast in a frozen yogurt commercial, and it was just one of the ways her parents insured she didn't lose her virginity until she was older. Find out how you, too, can keep your children from having sex now!