Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G Mockumentary 'Who Iz I?' Garners Mixed Reviews Amidst Controversy

Sacha Baron Cohen's mockumentary "Ali G: Who Iz I?" has hit cinemas, dividing critics and sparking controversy similar to the character's previous iterations. The film, released on Friday, has garnered a 50 percent 'rotten' rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

"Ali G: Who Iz I?" follows the character's life "since the world went to c**p" as he prepares to become a father. The return of the character, who first appeared on screens in 1998, has been met with polarized reactions, with some praising Cohen for "pushing comedy to its limits" while others criticize the film for perpetuating stereotypes.

Reviewers have offered a range of opinions. The Times awarded the film four stars, with critic Ed Potton noting that while the plot is "flimsy" and not all jokes land, those that do are "hilarious." The Daily Beast also gave it a "fresh" rating, calling it "mildly amusing" and occasionally "legitimately laugh-out-loud funny." The Hollywood Reporter echoed this sentiment, with critic Frank Scheck finding Cohen "naturally funny and quick with improvisation" but noting that the humor begins to drag over the feature-length runtime.

However, other critics were less impressed. The Guardian gave the film two stars, with Peter Bradshaw suggesting that those who disliked Ali G before will dislike this installment more, and that it might embolden accusations of racism. Empire also awarded two stars, with Helen O’Hara finding that "too much of the first and second act feel like they’re treading water and, importantly, not always punching up." Similarly, The Telegraph's Tim Robey described the comeback as delivering "only scattered laughs and stray bursts of inspiration," feeling like a "strained stunt."

Time Out and The Financial Times each gave three-star reviews, with Time Out's Phil de Semlyen calling the results "scattergun," and The Financial Times' Danny Leigh observing that Baron Cohen "seems weirdly jumpy—speaking up for humanist harmony in character."

The film's release has been accompanied by calls for a boycott in UK cinemas, with a campaign group alleging that the film and character promote racist stereotypes. The Daily Mail reported on a campaign that utilized AI to amplify its message. In response to the criticism, Cohen stated that the very fact Ali G is "outdated and problematic" is the reason he resurrected the character.

Cohen explained in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that he is "terrified of where our society is headed" and uses his comedy to comment on it. He aimed to expose extremism on "both sides of the political spectrum" and the dangers of "virtuous violence," especially in an era of heightened political polarization, social media misinformation, and the rise of artificial intelligence.

"The prejudices my characters are designed to expose haven't just lingered—they've metastasised," Cohen wrote in Time magazine. "They're fuelled by the greatest propaganda machine in history—social media—and now by its monstrous child, AI."

Despite the controversy, Cohen has defended the film's satirical aims. He previously wrote that Ali G is "designed to expose prejudice" and that the current climate of "ignorance reigns and truth is inverted" makes such satire necessary. He also teased the film's return with a surprise appearance at Wimbledon in July, sporting the character's signature style.

Sacha Baron Cohen's career with Ali G began on Channel 4's "The 11 O'Clock Show" in Autumn 1998, leading to "Da Ali G Show" in the early 2000s and the 2002 film "Ali G Indahouse." After announcing the character's retirement in 2007, Cohen resurrected Ali G in 2012 to accept an award and again for "Ali G Rezurection" in 2014.