The Dictator: A wonderful, multi-layered comedy pic

MANILA, Philippines - Sacha Baron Cohen now steps into the autocratic and very shiny shoes of General Admiral Haffaz Aladeen, a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy will never come to the country he so lovingly oppresses in The Dictator.

Oil rich and isolated, the North African state of Wadiya has been ruled by the vehemently anti-West Aladeen since he was six, when he was named Supreme Leader after the unfortunate death of his father, sadly killed in a hunting accident — hit by 97 stray bullets and a hand grenade.

Since his ascension to absolute power, Aladeen’s trusted advisor has been his Uncle Tamir (Sir Ben Kingsley), who serves as head of the Secret Police and chief of Security and Procurer for Women.

Unfortunately for Aladeen and his advisors, the much-despised West has begun to poke its nose into Wadiyan affairs, and the United Nations has repeatedly sanctioned the country over the last decade — the Dictator is not about to let a Security Council inspector into his secret weapons facility…don’t they know what “secret” means? But after an assassination attempt takes the life of yet another ringer for the Supreme Leader, Tamir convinces Aladeen to go to New York to address the United Nations’ concerns.

And so General Aladeen, Tamir and their entourage arrive in New York to a not-so-warm reception, as the city is rife with exiled Wadiyans, who only wish to see their country freed from Aladeen’s despotic rule.

But much more than angry expatriates, unwanted (and unwarranted!) sanctions await Aladeen in the Land of the Free.

Also joining Baron are Anna Faris as Zoey, the altruistic owner of the Free Earth Collective, a Manhattan health food store run on the honor system; and Jason Mantzoukas as Nadal, the brilliant Wadiyan scientist, whose nuclear bomb proves unacceptable and not nearly pointy enough for the Supreme Leader.

Reunited with Baron are multiple Borat and Brüno collaborators, including director Larry Charles; screenwriter/producers Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer; producers Todd Schulman and Anthony Hines, who are newly joined by producer Scott Rudin. Also returning are executive producers Marijo Winkler-Ioffreda, Peter Baynham and Dan Mazer, with new executive producer Adam McKay.

Rounding out the production are director of photography Lawrence Sher, production designer Victor Kempster, editors Greg Hayden and Eric Kissack, costume designer Jeffrey Kurland and composer Erran Baron Cohen.

The Dictator has been rated R by the MPAA.

The Dictator is distributed locally by United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp.