2006 / Larry Charles > So highly anticipated that it barely met expectations—which, in this case, is a very good thing. It’s hard to judge the film on its artistic merits as it’s essentially a broad practical joke on the uninformed American public (or at least those who don’t fancy a premium subscription to HBO). What sets Borat apart from its spiritual brethren Jackass is an attempt at a storyline, one that the film reasonably succeeds at. Sacha Baron Cohen has done better skits than what is presented here, but this seemingly fluid compilation of punchlines (and a few scenes that tug the heart and soul) works as the clincher. This is hands down one of the best comedies of 2006, but it remains to be seen how it stands up to the test of time.