Sacha Baron Cohen's latest comedy film, Ladies First, has been met with scathing reviews from critics, prompting Netflix subscribers to seek out his acclaimed 2019 thriller, The Spy. The Borat star's new venture, which dropped on Netflix on Friday, 22nd May, has been labelled a flop by several major publications.
Ladies First Criticised by Reviewers
Ladies First features Cohen alongside Rosamund Pike and follows a sexist man who is transported to a parallel universe dominated by women. In his original world, Cohen's character, Damien Sachs, is a smooth yet chauvinistic womaniser, but after a head injury, he finds himself at the bottom of the hierarchy in a reality where women hold the power. The Guardian branded the film "excruciatingly unfunny", noting that Pike is "deserving of far, far better than this". The Telegraph gave it a two-star rating, questioning "what is Rosamund Pike doing in this stupid comedy?" and lamenting the wasted talents of a strong British ensemble, including Fiona Shaw, Emily Mortimer, Charles Dance, and Richard E Grant.
The Spy: A Must-Watch Thriller
In contrast, Cohen's 2019 period espionage drama, The Spy, has been hailed as a "masterpiece" by viewers. The six-episode series follows real-life Mossad operative Eli Cohen (no relation to Sacha) as he goes undercover in the Syrian government during the 1960s under the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet. Set against the backdrop of the 1967 Six-Day War, the series chronicles his mission to infiltrate Syrian elite circles in Buenos Aires and Damascus, ultimately befriending future president Amin al-Hafiz. While some viewers have noted historical liberties, the series remains a gripping thriller. One IMDb user rated it 10/10, calling it "a must watch masterpiece" and praising the "brilliant and full of suspension stuff with great performance and smart directing". Another viewer described it as showcasing "Sacha Cohen's most extraordinary performance so far", adding that it is "the best show I've watched in a long long time". The series holds an 86% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 85% audience score.
Where to Watch
The Spy is available to stream on Netflix.
