Sacha Baron Cohen‘s Ali G: Who Iz I? is struggling to attract strong word-of-mouth. The R-rated comedy from Amazon MGM Studios marks Cohen’s directorial debut this Friday.
Before its release, Ali G: Who Iz I has failed to gain positive momentum. After facing backlash for its outdated and problematic jokes, the film appears to be falling short with most critics. The movie brings back a fictional character, played by Cohen, two decades after Ali G Indahouse. The sequel’s cast also features Morgana Robinson and Stewart Rodeheaver.
Why critics disagree on whether Ali G: Who Iz I? gets its political satire right
At the time of writing, Ali G: Who Iz I sits at an abysmal 42% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 12 reviews. Most point to the heavy reliance on provocative and outdated humor and wonder whether it’s actually suitable for a modern-day audience.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that Ali G “feels older in the wrong way, and the On-the-Buses humour with Julie is tired. The best bits will be available on TikTok and Instagram Reels soon enough.”
Jeff Ewing of The Playlist mentioned that the film “remains mired in the past, and Cohen’s most significant new character really only exists to amuse our most regressive uncles at Thanksgiving.” He also pointed out that Ali G’s character traits feel “hollow, contrived, and painfully out of touch.”
Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote the movie has moments of giggles, “but it’s dawdling and cumbersome, and far less relevant than it thinks.”
Todd Gilchrist of The Wrap mentioned that watching Sacha Baron Cohen “try to recreate the same magic a quarter of a century and a radically changed culture later is a dispiriting and painfully humorless affair. What’s funny and what’s risky in real life has long since outpaced the comedian’s imagination.”
Ali G: Who Iz I hits theaters on October 23, 2026.
Originally reported on ComingSoon.
