Cohen plays predictable role in “The Dictator”

From Ali G to Bruno, Sacha Baron Cohen’s myriad of personas never

seems to fail at being… From Ali G to Bruno, Sacha Baron Cohen’s myriad of personas never seems to fail at being irreverent and completely hilarious. His latest character, Admiral General Aladeen, the ruler of the fictional North African nation of Wadiya, makes for another over-the-top summer comedy in “The Dictator.”

The movie features Aladeen (Cohen), a power-hungry Middle Eastern leader with actions that mirror a number of real-life dictators. After he is denied the ability to build nuclear weapons, he and his uncle Tamir (Kingsley) travel to New York to appease the United Nations.

Tamir, acting in his own self-interest, enlists a body double of Aladeen to carry out his wishes while the real Aladeen is shaven and stripped of any power. Aladeen has nowhere to go and is forced into working at a vegan co-op in Brooklyn. It’s at this co-op that Aladeen meets the super-liberal Zoey (Faris).

The eventual odd coupling of the ruthless Aladeen with the overly empathetic Zoey provides just one layer of political satire that is very prevalent in the film.

Much in the spirit of previous Cohen and Charles collaborations, very little is sacred. From Aladeen’s flirtations with Zoey while his hands are in another person’s body to the chilling parallels drawn between American society and the fake dictatorship of Wadiya, “The Dictator” isn’t afraid to cross the line and, at moments, make you gag.

The difference between “The Dictator” and other over-the-top comedy films is that Cohen commits to his character with an undying wit that, even at the film’s most outrageous moments, feels in some way authentic. As in previous films, he does not stray from his character during the movie.

With solid performances from its supporting cast as well as a politically relevant and daring plot, “The Dictator” succeeds in pushing buttons while remaining a focused and coherent film.