Film File - The Dictator

When it comes to publicising a new film, Sacha Baron Cohen needs no tips from anybody. In New York last week for the launch of his latest comedy, 'The Dictator', the man formerly known as Ali G, Borat and Bruno arrived as his latest alter-ego, Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen, to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel for a press conference to bring awareness to "a global human tragedy" - deposed dictators. "Dictators have fallen one-by-one," said the bearded Aladeen, listing "Saddam, Kim Jong-il, Khadafy....and now Oprah." The leader of North African Republic of Wadiya - "12,000 miles from Israel, as the Scud flies" - was flanked by a retinue of '"virgins" armed with machine guns, red berets and short skirts, and supporters with signs reading, 'Give Persecution A Chance'. The dictator confirmed his country's love for Mel Gibson, the actor infamous for his alleged anti-Semitic rants: "We have made him our public relations expert and head of our Museum of Intolerance." Speaking in character throughout the spoof press conference, Aladeen gave his support for Barack Obama's Republican challenger for the White House. "In terms of policies, I would have said the Republicans if they could only become a little less extreme - what people call genocide in my country is called the judicial system in Texas." Of Republican candidate Romney, he declared: "He has the makings of a great dictator. He is incredibly wealthy, but pays no taxes. And it's not much of a leap from firing people to firing squads." The General also admitted to being 'a love machine' who's had relations with Katy Perry and Oprah. "No relationships, just sex activity," he clarified. Aladeen is the dictator of Wadiya, a hero who has risked his life and worked tirelessly to rule over his beloved nation and will do anything to prevent the rise of democracy in the country he worked so hard to oppress. This includes winning gold medals at sprint races - where he shoots the other competitors in the legs. When the chance comes to visit New York, he does those usual things we all love in the Big Apple - like riding on an elephant down Fifth Avenue, and bedding Megan Fox in return for a fistful of jewels. "Rubies?" she says, tossing them aside disdainfully. "What am I - a Kardashian?" - to which his highness replies: "Oh no, you are much less hairy." With a paper thin storyline of being kidnapped, having his beard shaved off and forced to live life as a 'normal' human being on the streets of the city that never sleeps, the one trick pony joke of the film is the fish out of water scenario. It's familiar territory for 'Borat' fans - but lacking the zest and originality of that film. Anna Farris, John C Reilly, Ben Kingsley and Megan Fox (playing herself) co-star. With plentiful use of media clips of Obama, Hilary Clinton and David Cameron, the plot boils down to a succession of scenes where Aladeen gives full rein to a variety of zany views on politics, power and, ahem, pubic hair. It's a film where the best parts have been Baron Cohen's publicity stunts - like his appearance on a recent 'Saturday Night Live' show. "Roger Ebert gave my movie two thumbs up," he boasts proudly. "You don't believe me? Look," and pulled two bloody thumbs from his pocket! He then brings a dishevelled Martin Scorcese onto the guest panel, dressed in pyjamas and with a bag over his head. Asked to give his opinion on the film, Scorcese receives an electric shock every time he criticises it. Eventually, he says: "It was good. It was great. It was better than 'Raging Bull'" as he tries to dodge another jolt of electricity. "You think this is torture? I had to sit through 'The Aviator'," Aladeen tells him.