The Dictator
The Dictator
6.557%45%
The Republic of Wadiya is ruled by an eccentric and oppressive leader named Hafez Aladeen. Aladeen is summoned to New York to a UN assembly to address concerns about his country's nuclear weapons program, but the trip goes awry.
Manuel Frangis reviewedMarch 17, 2025
I just watched The Dictator, and it is an easy 4.5 out of 5 stars for me. This is Sacha Baron Cohen doing what he does best. Bold, outrageous, and completely unfiltered comedy. It is crude, ridiculous, and somehow still sharp in the way it satirizes politics, dictatorships, and the absurdity of power. There is no holding back, and that is exactly what makes it work.
The story follows General Aladeen, a narcissistic, clueless dictator who ends up stranded in New York City after a coup. What follows is pure chaos. You get everything. Insane one liners, absurd situations, and Cohen going all in with his fearless comedy. The movie takes shots at everything from democracy to capitalism to the media, and while some jokes are straight up ridiculous, others are surprisingly clever in how they expose real world hypocrisy. It is a mix of pure stupidity and biting satire that somehow works.
Cohen absolutely owns this role. He does not just play Aladeen. He becomes him, from the ridiculous arrogance to the over the top accent and mannerisms. His ability to stay in character no matter how absurd things get is what makes the comedy so strong. His delivery is perfect, and he makes even the most ridiculous lines sound believable.
Anna Faris is great as the straight laced activist who balances out the madness. Her character is the total opposite of Aladeen, which makes their scenes together even funnier. She plays it completely serious, which only makes Cohen’s antics stand out even more. Ben Kingsley also delivers, adding a more grounded but still ridiculous presence to the story.
The humor is brutal. It is offensive, politically incorrect, and definitely not for everyone. This movie does not care about being safe or appealing to a wide audience. It goes for the most outrageous, uncomfortable, and shocking jokes it can. Some moments will leave you laughing uncontrollably, while others will have you thinking, Did they really just say that? But that is the beauty of Cohen’s comedy. It is not afraid to push the limits and make fun of everything.
One of the best parts of the movie is how it fully commits to the satire. The speech at the end? Surprisingly on point. It is one of those moments that makes you laugh while also making you realize just how accurate the satire really is. The fish out of water moments in New York are pure gold. Watching Aladeen try to adjust to life outside his dictatorship leads to some of the funniest and most ridiculous moments in the film.
The cinematography and production design also add to the comedy. Everything about Aladeen, from his wardrobe to his insane palace back home, is completely over the top. The exaggerated set pieces and costumes help sell the absurdity of his character and the world he comes from.
The movie is not perfect. Some jokes do not land, and the middle drags a little. There are moments where the comedy slows down, and you can feel the pacing shift. But even in its weaker moments, the movie still manages to be entertaining because of Cohen’s performance and the sheer unpredictability of the story.
Overall, The Dictator is a hilarious, fearless, and completely insane comedy that delivers exactly what it promises. If you love Sacha Baron Cohen’s brand of humor, this is a must watch. It is crude, smart, and full of wild, unpredictable moments that will keep you laughing the entire time. I had a blast watching it, and it is definitely one of the funniest political satires out there.