Ali G: Who Iz I? Review: Sacha Baron Cohen’s Comedy Proves Wisdom Does Not Come with Age

When you watch Ali G: Who Iz I?, you can sit back and be impressed by Sacha Baron Cohen or be repulsed by him, but never quite both. He’s a Peter Sellers for a new generation, albeit the kind of comedic descendant that would leave the original Inspector Jacques Clouseau ashamed of his laugh-out-loud lineage. If I am not being clear, let me continue: Cohen’s comedy style forces you to choose a side, and I am not sure you’ll want to take either.

That makes it almost refreshing that Mr. Cohen spares audiences a prolonged theatrical run, with Ali G: Who Iz I? premiering in theaters for one night only before it eventually streams on Prime Video at an unconfirmed date later this year. (The movie is from Amazon MGM Studios, so no Netflix-and-chill for you.) We recommend saving your money for theatrical releases, because Mr. Cohen’s film is low on laughs and full of unearned arrogance.

What is Ali G: Who Iz I? about?

It’s been nearly twenty years since we last saw Ali G (Cohen) in mainstream media, which is surprising given the rise of social media and the culture of provocation that came with it. It’s a tailor-made backdrop for Ali G, one the script handles poorly. Ali gets back in the game at the urging of his longtime girlfriend, Julie (Morgana Robinson, replacing Kellie Bright and proving once again that only men are allowed to reprise roles after forty).

In short, Ali needs money, with impending fatherhood bringing financial responsibilities he’s hardly prepared for. So the self-proclaimed greatest hip-hop journalist since Sway Calloway heads to America’s fertile ground to become, well, great again. The comedy is supposed to come from a cultural and political landscape that has changed dramatically while he was away. The problem is that Ali G hasn’t changed with it, with a character and jokes that are outdated.

Ali G: Who Iz I? Review

Ali G: Who Iz I? marks Cohen’s debut as a writer-director and executive producer. Cohen originally portrayed the character on British television in The 11 O’Clock Show and Da Ali G Show. While many may consider this a sequel to Ali G Indahouse, Cohen has stated that he views it as a standalone film. I bring up the filmography to make a subtle point: Cohen has nothing new to say, particularly about the mockumentary genre or the source material.

It’s not just about the character; it is like watching old soda bottles get recycled, polished, and marketed as new and improved, even though they’re essentially the same. Ali G sat on the shelf for so long for a reason: the character could hardly exist in the era of the #MeToo movement and post-pandemic cultural turmoil. The kitchen-sink approach to racial stereotypes, sexism, and cultural appropriation leaves audiences questioning who, exactly, Mr. Cohen is mocking.

Is Ali G: Who Iz I? worth watching

For instance, the progressive professor who goes after Ali G professionally, or the cultural appropriation sequence that proves my point that an unchanged character doesn’t always age like fine wine. At least Mr. Cohen goes after both sides, with comedy so painfully stretched beyond its limits that, hell, it may be the one thing that finally brings conservatives and liberals together.

Even the sequence where he tries to prove A$AP Rocky is his father is cringeworthy at its best and downright embarrassing at its worst. Ali G: Who Iz I? is like that old college friend you wonder about, only to spend an hour together and remember exactly why you lost touch. Mr. Cohen’s return to his signature character is dated, cringy, and painfully unfunny.

You can watch Ali G: Who Iz I? in theaters for one night only on October 23rd!

Ali G: Who Iz I? Review: Sacha Baron Cohen’s Comedy Proves Wisdom Does Not Come with Age