To a group of frat boys at the University of South Carolina, it’s a publicity nightmare. To Pamela Anderson, it’s grounds for a restraining order. And to a group of rowdy rodeo-goers, it’s a call to initiate mob violence. It’s garnered multiple lawsuits — as well as an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award.

It might be called “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” but, to most students across the nation, it’s just “Borat.” A creation of Sacha Baron Cohen (of “Da Ali G Show” fame), this weekend at Flicks is your chance to catch the pop culture phenomenon of 2006 and see what all the buzz is about.

Cohen plays a caricature of a backwards, racist, sexist and homophobic television reporter from Kazakhstan who is traveling across the United States to document the greatness of “the US-of-A” for his fellow countrymen. He pulls stunts ranging from releasing a live chicken on a New York subway car to bringing his own feces to the table at an elegant Southern dinner party. His efforts to produce the news report, however, quickly transform into a mission to make Pamela Anderson his wife (since she’s the “virgin” for him) after seeing her on "Baywatch." And while the Americans with which Borat interacts are shocked by his behavior, those in the audience are equally shocked by their often offensive responses.

While it’s easy to imagine how a project like this could start to lose steam after the first few scenes, Cohen manages to keep the comedic momentum and saves the most outrageous for last. But, at the same time, one might wonder whether the inane antics are enough to justify a feature-length film.

And then there are some who just won’t relate to Cohen’s over-the-top and in-your-face style of comedy. After all, for those who are older, as columnist Joel Stein notes in Time, “What exactly is funny about being invited to nice people's homes and handing them your feces?”

Fair point. But we, along with critics and millions of young Americans, are more than willing to give Borat a “high-five.”