(Image courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios)
The second trailer for "Ali G: Who Iz I?," the official sequel to "Ali G Indahouse" and Sacha Baron Cohen’s first feature as writer, director and star, has arrived with a surprise crossover. Borat, the title character from Cohen’s other hit franchise, makes a cameo as a news anchor, bringing him face-to-face with Ali G for the first time.
During the broadcast, Borat takes aim at the recent controversy surrounding NewsCord’s campaign urging theaters not to screen "Ali G: Who Iz I?" The media watchdog argues that Ali G’s exaggerated appropriation of Black culture is outdated and reinforces racial stereotypes. Borat claims that his native Kazakhstan has also boycotted the film and urges audiences not to support it in theaters. Naturally, the gag is reverse psychology—Cohen clearly wants as many people as possible buying tickets.
Watch the second trailer below ▼
The sequel marks Cohen’s feature directorial debut. Unlike the original movie’s conventional narrative format, "Ali G: Who Iz I?" unfolds as a mockumentary closer in style to the character’s spinoff series, "Da Ali G Show." Much like the "Borat" films, it features extensive improvised interactions with unsuspecting members of the public.
The official synopsis reads: After more than 20 years of hard partying, once-famous rapper and TV host Ali G is stunned to discover that his longtime girlfriend, Julie, is eight months pregnant. With a baby on the way, he heads to America in a determined bid to revive his entertainment career. However, Ali soon runs into enemies who ultimately threaten both his survival and that of his unborn child. The film opens in North American theaters on October 23.