Review of Ali G Indahouse: The Movie

Introduction

Ali G and Roland Rat have a lot in common. Both are characters that became bigger than the shows that introduced them, and both carry a certain aura of coolness with them (often self imagined). Roland Rat escaped the confines of TV AM in the eighties to become a television icon in his own right as well as enjoying a brief chart career. Channel 4`s The Eleven O`clock Show presented by the inane Iain Lee and disingenuous but wholesome Daisy Donovan actually boasts two graduates to its name. Ricky Gervais went on to star in the acclaimed and groundbreaking BBC sitcom, The Office, while Sacha Baron Cohen`s creation Ali G really did become bigger than his humble origins. The supposedly ethnic interviewer with his streetwise patois ridiculed politicians and the famous alike, and soon got his own show. Ali G fever swept the nation, and soon he was seen assaulting the charts with Shaggy, as well as appearing in a video with Madonna herself. Finally he had to outdo my hero Roland, and make a movie. Here then is Ali G Indahouse.

Ali G is stricken when he learns that his local leisure centre is to have its funding removed by the government. Where else will all the kids go to pull themselves out of the drive-bys and violence of the `hood? The West Staines Massiv` must forego its traditional rivalry with the East Staines Massiv` so Ali G can make his protest outside the council building. While chained up to the railings the Deputy Prime Minister, David Carlton, notices him. Carlton realises that this is the perfect ringer, and with Ali G as a potential candidate in the Staines Bye-Election, he can discredit the Prime Minister and seize the reins of power. But he doesn`t count on Ali G winning, and soon the homeboy is stalking the corridors of power, bringing his unique outlook on the world to bear on some innovative legislation and diplomacy. But will Ali G forget his rough upbringing in the `hood, and more importantly, Julie?

Video

Ali G Indahouse is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This isn`t an especially effects heavy film, and the direction is effective if conventional. It`s hard to say anything about the picture other than the transfer is clear, sharp and colourful enough given that this is hardly a Hollywood production. Being a recent film, there is no print damage or signs of age. This disc is coded for both regions 2 and 4

Audio

Sound is presented in DD 5.1 for the main feature. There is nothing outstanding about the sound and it is a clear competent transfer, with all the dialogue audible. The soundtrack is very good, with some excellent tracks being used. There is a moment with General Levy`s Incredible, that doesn`t quite rival the Wayne`s World moment with Bohemian Rhapsody, but is an admirable attempt nonetheless. Adam F has scored the movie and his music is perfect given the subject matter. Don`t let the presence of Chaka Demus and Pliers put you off either. This film should satisfy your drum and bass requirements for a while.

Features

What is it with Sacha Baron Cohen? He never drops the act for one minute. You get Ali G 24-7 and no one else (with the exception of Borat). That basically means that when you look at the extras on this disc, don`t be expecting any great insights in the movie making process. Also, you may want to give it a little time between viewing the various extras so you don`t overdose on Ali G.

The menu screens are quite humorous, based on scenes from the film and the main screen presents you with four options, Playa, Bone-us, Scene-Selecta and Subtitles.

The big addition on the disc is the Audio Commentary, here supplied by Ali G and Ricky C (aka Sacha Baron Cohen and Martin Freeman). This is quite funny as the two characters bicker and snipe and generally ridicule what is occurring on screen. This is presented in DD 5.1 also. Occasionally when the movie music gets exceptionally loud, it drowns out the commentary. It`s fortunate then, that like the film the commentary is subtitled in Dutch and English.

There are 22 minutes of deleted scenes and outtakes presented in 1.85:1 letterbox and introduced by Ali G as scenes that were too s***ty to be in the movie. Quite.

There is a Video Diary presented by the eponymous Mr G that lasts 11 minutes and is really quite boring, until he reaches Downing Street, and you see some of that interviewing sharpness come out as he takes on one of the police guards.

Talking The Talk gives a 3-minute course in Ali G-speak. Scenes from the film are translated into posh English with a rather upper class voice.

Ali`s Gallery is a slideshow that lasts about 1 minute and displays around 12 pictures. There is no need for you to lift your remote.

Finally there are two teaser trailers, and the theatrical trailer proper.

Conclusion

White people pretending to be coloured is not something that I personally find funny. Misogyny and sexism are not your usual humorous topics, and homophobia is hardly a subject to be condoned. Ali G is hilarious. It`s hard to quantify or qualify, but I suppose it`s because there is a liberal dose of irony with what could be considered offensive that makes Ali G work. The fact that every potentially offensive opinion or stance that the character has is eventually rubbed in his face allows us to laugh at him safe in the knowledge that our liberal and moral values haven`t been secretly subverted.

Ali G on the other hand is a one joke act, essentially boiled down to his catchphrase, "Is it cos I is black?" and while this works on the half hour level well, it does take a bit of stretching to fill 84 minutes. That said, I was laughing more often than not during this film, and it was only during the last act that I earnestly started to look towards the clock. Ali G`s irreverent and risqué humour translated well to the big screen and even now, just thinking of the words "Tupac, No!" causes me to chuckle. However, the story is a familiar one, the culture clash and fish out of water story that has been made many times before and is a staple comedy genre. Halfway through this film I was brutally reminded of King Ralph in particular.

While Sacha Baron Cohen`s creation is exactly as you would have experienced him on television, the same cannot be said for the supporting cast. Michael Gambon frankly looks bewildered as the Prime Minister, as if he wandered onto the wrong set by mistake. Ever since The Golden Child and Last Action Hero, I have associated Charles Dance with the pompous upper class comedy villain, and he simply rehashes that here. It`s nice to see him game for some ridicule though. As for Ali G himself, when Richard Madely does an impersonation of you on This Morning, you know you have arrived. Richard and Judy have a cameo here mind.

Ali G Indahouse is something of a strange animal, as I found myself laughing uproariously almost all the way through it, but it resists analysis, and now when I try to consider what actually made me laugh, it`s hard to see what the joke was. This is the kind of movie that you just sit down and enjoy. However the Ali G act does begin to grate after a while, and the film may be funny, but the extras are pushing it a bit. Still, it`s short, sweet and funny. By the way rumours that lanky poltroon Iain Lee can be seen flipping burgers behind the counter at McDonalds are completely unfounded. Aii!