Grimsby

What it's about:

Nobby has everything a man from the poor English fishing town of Grimsby could want—9 children and the most attractive girlfriend in northern England. There’s only one thing missing in his life: his little brother, Sebastian. After they were adopted by different families as children, Nobby spent 28 years searching for him. When Nobby finds out where Sebastian is, he sets off to reunite with his brother, unaware that not only is his brother an MI6 agent, but he's just uncovered a plot that puts the world in danger. On the run and wrongfully accused, Sebastian realises that if he’s going to save the world, he will need the help of its biggest idiot.

What we thought:

Sacha Baron Cohen is such a strange paradox. In good films, his performances are normally outstanding, an expert at caricatures and using every facet of his body to facilitate his role. But whenever he’s in his own films, a different Baron Cohen takes over, one who has the mind of an 11-year-old that guffaws at poop jokes and takes pleasure in incredibly inappropriate sexual jokes. Other films of hilarious vulgarity, like Deadpool and Spy, offer viewers clever writing, witty banter and know how to tread the line of funny political incorrectness before it becomes offensive. All Grimsby can offer you is a barrage of cum jokes, sexual jests at the expense of women and minors and severe exploitation of stereotypes. In short, all it offers you is a turd that’s not even polished.

In-between the unfunny gags, Grimsby is a story of Nobby (Baron Cohen) who’s been searching for his little brother for decades after being separated as children. Following a lead that takes him to a charity dinner, he finally reunites with his brother Sebastian (Mark Strong) who turns out to be a secret agent for England. Unknowingly Nobby messes up his mission, and the two brothers have to band together to save the world from an evil organisation.

That story actually sounds great, if it was written by the writers of Spy we could have had a good spy comedy. Unfortunately, Baron Cohen gave it the Borat-treatment and made it almost unwatchable. Clearly Cohen has his fans, but one wonders about the intelligence of those that could laugh at something so banal. Of course I had a few chuckles, but that’s inevitable when throws joke after joke at someone – eventually one would stick. All I want is Cohen to just star in other people’s films and leave the script writing for someone with actual wit.

Everyone else did what they do best – Strong nailed the agent look and feel, but unfortunately got roped into Baron Cohen’s disgusting sex gags, including sucking venom from a testicle, jerking off an elephant while inside another elephant and a firework up his ass. Rebel Wilson was her charming in-your-face-self and Penelope Cruz was her usual saucy persona with some added villainy.

The worst part about Grimsby, is that South Africa got dragged into it. About a third of the film is set in our lovely country, and luckily we avoided getting too stereotyped. The only good part though was the intro of the film, which have us a unique first-person chase scene through what looks like the streets of Cape Town. Later, the film obviously turns to a South African township and then a safari lodge Baron Cohen assaults our animals (not in real life, but on-screen is enough to make you feel a twinge of anger). I just hope everyone involved got paid lots and lots of money.

Grimsby is an awful film, one of the worst ones I have seen in a long time, and not even South African pride should entice you to see this at the cinema. For the sake of your intelligence, your dignity and your sense of humour, rather go see real comedy at your local comedy club.